Trumps Flagship Tax Bill Scrapes Through Senate With Decisive Vance Vote

In a nail-biting Senate session, President Trump’s cornerstone legislation, initially dubbed the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, secured passage by the slimmest possible margin. The decisive vote came from Vice-President JD Vance, who broke a 50-50 deadlock after three Republican senators crossed party lines.

The contentious bill, which extends Trump’s first-term tax cuts, faced significant opposition due to projections from the Congressional Budget Office suggesting it would add £3.3 trillion to the national debt over a decade. This figure represents a £1 trillion increase from the House version, which itself barely passed with a 215-214 vote.

White House officials have staunchly disputed these calculations, projecting a £1.4 trillion reduction in debt through anticipated savings and economic growth. The administration has also highlighted potential revenue from Trump’s proposed tariff regime, scheduled for review on 9 July.

Republican senators Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, and Rand Paul broke ranks to oppose the legislation. Collins and Tillis cited concerns over healthcare cuts, while Paul criticised the spending reductions as insufficient to address mounting national debt concerns.

The controversy intensified when Elon Musk, a significant Republican donor, publicly condemned the bill. The Tesla and SpaceX chief executive, who contributed £300 million to Republican campaigns last year, called for the establishment of a new political party, describing the current system as the “PORKY PIG PARTY” due to its spending practices.

The legislation must now return to the House for final approval, where fiscal conservatives have expressed alarm over the increased debt projections. The bill’s passage remains uncertain, potentially derailing Trump’s hope of signing it into law by Independence Day.