Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ faces major blow as 3 Republicans defect. Who are they?

The White House recently said in a statement that a failure to pass the bill would be the “ultimate betrayal."

Published on: Jun 29, 2025, 06:52:53 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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Donald Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ is hanging in balance after three Republicans close to oppose it – Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky. The Senate held a key test vote on the bill Saturday evening, June 28. The White House recently said in a statement that a failure to pass the bill would be the “ultimate betrayal,” according to CBS News.

Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ faces major blow as 3 Republicans defect (AFP)

“The One Big Beautiful Bill Act reflects the shared priorities of both the Congress and the Administration. Therefore, the Congress should immediately pass this bill and send it to the President’s desk by July 4, 2025, to show the American people that they are serious about ‘promises made, promises kept,'” the statement said. “President Trump is committed to keeping his promises, and failure to pass this bill would be the ultimate betrayal.”

The Republicans opposing the bill

Johnson, a Republican senator from Wisconsin, told the Fox & Friends programme on Saturday that he will be voting “no,” adding that he needed more time to read it. "We just got the bill," Johnson said. "I got my first copy at about 01:23 in the morning."

Paul expressed his reservations with the bill too, saying a clear no, following which Tillis also raised objections to the legislation on Saturday.

To clear the Senate, Trump’s bill required a simple majority. The party can afford no more than three defections, with Republicans holding 53 seats out of 100, as well as a tiebreaker from Vice-President JD Vance.

Trump previously said that it would be a “disaster” for Republicans and the country if the “one big, beautiful bill” does not make it out of the lower chamber. “They have to get there,” Trump said in April, according to the New York Post. “And I think we are there. We had a great meeting today. I think we are there.”

“But just in case there are a couple of Republicans not there – you just gotta get there, close your eyes and get there!” Trump further said, adding, “It is a phenomenal bill. Stop grandstanding.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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