Trump’s Tax Bill Squeaks Through House in 215-214 Late-Night Drama

It was a late-night showdown in the House, with Speaker Mike Johnson pulling out all the stops to push President Trump’s tax bill across the finish line. By a razor-thin 215-214 vote, the legislation squeaked through after a marathon of debates, amendments, and enough coffee to keep a small city awake.

The drama kicked off when fiscal hawks, led by the House Freedom Caucus, initially derailed the bill on May 16, demanding sharper provisions. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., explained the holdout: "We wanted a better bill—one that didn’t just promise cuts but delivered them." After intense negotiations, a manager’s amendment emerged, sweetening the deal with extra funding for non-Medicaid expansion states, tax breaks for gun owners, and faster Medicaid work requirements.

Johnson’s late-night visits to the House Budget Committee sealed the deal, though not without hiccups. The House Rules Committee slogged through over 500 symbolic Democratic amendments, stretching the session past 2:30 a.m. on May 22. Meanwhile, Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris hinted at a White House deal that never fully materialized, leaving some conservatives grumbling.

Chip Roy, R-Texas, nearly derailed the vote by missing a key Rules Committee tally—because he was, as he texted, "actually reading the bill." In the end, Roy came around, but Harris voted "present," and two Republicans, Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson, defected, citing deficit concerns. Two others, David Schweikert and Andrew Garbarino, missed the vote entirely, reportedly napping.

With cigars, snacks, and sheer determination, Republicans held the line. Johnson called it a triumph for Trump’s "America First" agenda, urging the Senate to keep changes minimal for a swift path to the president’s desk by July 4.