Trump Seeks Republican Support for Contested Tax, Budget Bills

President Donald Trump is actively lobbying House Republicans to unite behind his proposed budget and tax bill, which includes extending the 2017 tax cuts and imposing tighter eligibility for Medicaid. Despite his efforts, several Republican holdouts remain unconvinced, particularly over issues such as Medicaid cuts and the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions, with moderates from high-tax states pushing for increases. Trump has urged these factions to accept compromises, warning against further changes to Medicaid and discouraging additional carve-outs on SALT, emphasizing the need for unanimous support. House Speaker Mike Johnson aims for a swift vote, but negotiations continue amid differing priorities between Trump, budget hawks, and red-state representatives. The bill faces criticism for potentially adding trillions to the federal debt and for its significant impact on Medicaid coverage. Overall, while progress is being made inch by inch, a final consensus has yet to be reached among Republicans.