Trump Bill Threatened as GOP Lawmakers Rebel
House Speaker Mike Johnson is working tirelessly to rally Republican support for a critical procedural vote on former President Donald Trump’s sweeping bill. With four GOP lawmakers already opposing the measure, Johnson faces a tough challenge, as he can only afford three defections. To counter the rebellion, House leadership plans to keep the vote open for an extended period, applying pressure on dissenters to shift their stance. The strategy is aimed at securing a narrow path to victory, allowing for immediate passage of the legislation once consensus is reached.
Trump’s Bill on the Brink: Five GOP ‘No’ Votes Jeopardize Procedural Vote as House Leadership Scrambles for Support
Washington, D.C. – In a dramatic and high-stakes moment on Capitol Hill, House Speaker Mike Johnson and his Republican leadership team are urgently working behind the scenes to shore up support for a pivotal procedural vote that could determine the fate of former President Donald Trump’s flagship legislative bill. As the vote remains open, five House Republicans have broken ranks and currently oppose the motion, putting the entire effort in jeopardy.
The bill, a sweeping piece of legislation strongly backed by Trump, requires near-unanimous Republican support to advance in the narrowly divided House. Speaker Johnson can only afford to lose three GOP votes for the procedural motion to succeed. However, as of now, five Republicans have publicly come out against the measure, stalling momentum and throwing the legislative process into limbo.
Who Said ‘No’?
The five current “no” votes are:
- Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA)
- Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN)
- Rep. Keith Self (R-TX)
- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
- Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY)
Each dissenting member has cited different reasons for their opposition, reflecting broader ideological and policy divisions within the Republican Party.
Rep. Andrew Clyde (Georgia)
Rep. Clyde, a staunch Second Amendment advocate, opposes the bill due to changes made by the Senate parliamentarian. Specifically, he criticized the removal of a provision that would have eliminated the registration requirement and fees for firearm silencers. Clyde has made it clear that this issue is non-negotiable for him, and he has refused to budge even as leadership applies pressure.
Rep. Victoria Spartz (Indiana)
A fiscal conservative, Rep. Spartz has taken a more nuanced position. She has stated that while she opposes the procedural motion, she ultimately intends to support the bill itself once it reaches final passage. Her objection centers on budgetary concerns and what she sees as procedural shortcuts. However, her initial “no” vote still counts against the leadership’s tally and could block the bill’s advancement.
Rep. Keith Self (Texas)
He had backed the original framework passed by the House in June but is now withholding support due to what he sees as unwelcome compromises and deviations from conservative principles in the updated text.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania)
Rep. Fitzpatrick’s opposition has surprised many within the GOP leadership ranks. Known as a centrist with a history of breaking with party lines, including previous opposition to repealing the Affordable Care Act, Fitzpatrick has not offered a detailed explanation for his stance on this procedural vote. Nonetheless, his refusal to support the motion has added an unexpected layer of complexity to Speaker Johnson’s task.
Rep. Thomas Massie (Kentucky)
The most recent addition to the list of “no” votes, Massie cast his vote against the motion while the tally was still open. A libertarian-leaning lawmaker often skeptical of federal spending and procedural maneuvers, Massie’s opposition comes as little surprise to those familiar with his voting record. Still, his vote further narrows the path forward for the bill.
Leadership in Crisis Mode
With the vote still underway and eight GOP lawmakers yet to cast their votes, Speaker Johnson has made the rare decision to keep the vote open indefinitely, a tactic intended to allow more time for negotiations and persuasion. This move signals just how critical the bill is for House Republican leadership and Trump allies, who see its passage as a litmus test for party unity and policy direction.
According to CNN, GOP leaders are leaving no stone unturned in their effort to flip at least two of the current “no” votes. Behind closed doors, intense lobbying is underway, with key figures from Trump’s orbit reportedly contacting holdout members. Johnson has reportedly told colleagues he is willing to “keep the vote open as long as it takes” to get the numbers.
Sources inside the Capitol say that some undecided members are feeling increasing pressure, with leadership warning that a failure to pass the procedural vote could have serious implications for the party’s legislative agenda and unity heading into the next election cycle.
What’s at Stake?
If the procedural motion fails, the bill will not advance to final passage, representing a significant blow to both Trump and the House GOP leadership. It would also be a public display of internal party fractures, just months ahead of the 2026 midterm campaign ramp-up.
The bill itself has been described by supporters as a comprehensive conservative package addressing taxes, border security, energy production, and more. Its failure would be seen as a symbolic defeat for Trump’s legislative influence, even after leaving office, and a major setback for Speaker Johnson’s ability to manage the House Republican caucus.
As the minutes drag on and the vote remains open, all eyes in Washington are focused on whether Johnson can successfully flip at least two of the five holdouts—or if this pivotal vote will mark a moment of division too deep to overcome.