According to the New York Post, Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy just threw a haymaker at fellow Republicans for stalling President Trump’s ambitious “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
On Friday, five GOP lawmakers derailed the bill in the House Budget Committee, prompting McCarthy to call their actions a “real misstep” that puts personal agendas over party unity. This legislation, packed with Trump’s signature tax cuts and border security measures, was meant to sail through but hit a wall of conservative dissent.
The bill’s journey began last week when various House committees unveiled its components, setting the stage for a consolidated proposal. The House Budget Committee was tasked with stitching these pieces into one cohesive package. But when push came to shove, five Republicans—Chip Roy, Ralph Norman, Josh Brecheen, Andrew Clyde, and Lloyd Smucker—voted to halt its progress.
Roy, Norman, Brecheen, and Clyde argued the bill didn’t go far enough to rein in government spending. They pushed for tweaks, like speeding up Medicaid work requirements, revealing a deeper rift within the party. Smucker, meanwhile, cited procedural concerns, hoping to revisit the bill later.
McCarthy didn’t hold back, suggesting these holdouts were more interested in self-promotion than advancing Trump’s agenda. “The stock market seems like it is moving up,” he said, implying Congress could ride that wave if it followed Trump’s lead. His words sting, but they expose a truth: unity is tougher than it looks.
The former speaker also took a subtle jab at current House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose leadership he called into question. Johnson, who replaced McCarthy after a GOP revolt in 2023, now faces the same fractious party dynamics. It’s almost poetic—turns out, actions have consequences.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is no small potatoes—it’s a buffet of Trump’s greatest hits. Think 2017 tax cut extensions, no taxes on tips or overtime, bigger deductions for seniors, beefed-up border security, and more energy production. If passed, it could reshape the economic landscape, but only if Republicans get their act together.
McCarthy’s frustration peaked when he claimed Trump is practically playing both president and speaker to push this bill forward. “Poor President Trump is being the president and the speaker at the same time,” he quipped. That’s a zinger that lands hard, but it’s a reminder of the leadership vacuum haunting the GOP.
GOP leaders scrambled over the weekend, negotiating with the holdouts to salvage the bill’s chances. They planned a late-night Budget Committee meeting on Sunday, hoping compromises would break the logjam. It’s a high-stakes poker game, and the clock is ticking.
McCarthy warned that failure to pass the bill could lead to higher taxes, a prospect no conservative wants to face. “If they don’t get the job done, your taxes go up,” he said, laying the stakes bare. It’s a rallying cry meant to jolt Republicans into action, but will it be enough?
The bill’s next stop, if it clears the Budget Committee, is the Rules Committee, followed by a full House vote. Each step is a minefield, with GOP hardliners ready to flex their muscles again. The party’s ability to unite will determine whether Trump’s vision becomes law or fizzles out.
McCarthy’s critique isn’t just about this bill—it’s about the GOP’s soul. He sees a party teetering between bold action and self-inflicted wounds. His call for unity is both a plea and a warning: get in line, or risk squandering a golden opportunity.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” promises to “unleash the economy,” as McCarthy put it, by delivering security and stability. Yet, the GOP’s internal squabbles threaten to derail that vision before it even hits the floor. It’s a classic case of conservatives eating their own, and the timing couldn’t be worse.
Sunday’s late-night meeting was a last-ditch effort to bridge the gap between GOP factions. Whether those compromises satisfy the holdouts remains to be seen. One thing’s clear: the longer this drags on, the harder it is to sell the “unity” narrative.
McCarthy’s words carry weight, but they also highlight a bitter irony. The man ousted by his party is now schooling them on teamwork. If Republicans can’t rally behind Trump’s bill, they might just hand progressives an opening—and that’s a misstep nobody can afford.
