Trump and Johnson bypass critics with the approval of the 'One Grand Magnificent Law'
In a historic milestone, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) succeeded in passing the "One Big Beautiful Bill" during a record-breaking 72-hour legislative sprint, working alongside President Donald Trump. This legislation, a cornerstone of Trump's second-term agenda, was initially met with skepticism by Washington's political establishment.
The bill, which includes provisions on taxes, immigration, energy, defense, and the national debt, was passed by the House with a razor-thin margin of 215 to 214. Despite internal disagreements within the House Republican Conference, Speaker Johnson managed to keep almost all Republicans united, with only two GOP defections.
From the outset, Speaker Johnson demonstrated his strategic acumen by leveraging party discipline and narrow coalition management. He began preparing for this moment over a year ago, setting the stage for unified government to unlock the reconciliation process. This allowed him and House Republicans to hit the ground running at the start of the 119th Congress.
President Trump played a critical role in securing the bill's passage, engaging in high-stakes negotiations with ideological hardliners, centrist holdouts, and even making a rare trip to Capitol Hill ahead of the vote. His involvement helped keep the historically small and unruly GOP conference on track.
Speaker Johnson's success can be attributed to his methodical and thoughtful approach, rooted in his deep Christian faith. This has earned him a reservoir of goodwill across the GOP conference, enabling him to wield the gavel under one of the slimmest majorities in American history.
The passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" marks a significant victory for Speaker Johnson and President Trump, who have dominated the national political scene for over a decade. However, the legislation still faces tests in the Senate, with Speaker Johnson's speakership yet to be truly tested.
Sources:[1] Associated Press. (2025, May 20). Johnson, Trump Win Historic Budget Passage in House. Retrieved from https://www.apnews.com/article/mike-johnson-budget-donald-trump-politics-9aa7d39db97b75503e8d4d31e6092a84[2] Roll Call. (2025, May 20). House approves GOP budget plan in surprise vote. Retrieved from https://www.rollcall.com/2025/05/20/house-approves-gop-budget-plan-in-surprise-vote/
The passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" signals a triumph for Speaker Mike Johnson's strategic politics and President Donald Trump's influence in policy-and-legislation, but its future in the Senate remains uncertain. The bill's economy-wide impact, featuring tax, immigration, energy, defense, and national debt provisions, was achieved through Speaker Johnson's tight party discipline and skillful coalition management over a yearlong process. This General News story suggests that Johnson's opinion on legislation, forged from his deep faith, has earned him significant influence among House Republicans, despite governing under a slim majority.
