House Republicans pushed through a key vote on Donald Trump’s sweeping “megabill” early Thursday, moving the president’s top legislative priorities one step closer to becoming law. The bill is now on track for a final vote after GOP leaders barely managed to hold their party together during a tense, late-night standoff.
The House approved the rule that sets the terms for debate by a narrow 219-213 vote, unlocking discussion on what Trump calls his “big, beautiful bill.” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) gambled by holding the vote open for over five hours — a rare and dramatic move aimed at winning over Republican holdouts threatening to block it.
Some conservatives wanted to delay the vote entirely, warning they would vote no unless given more time. Johnson didn’t blink.
He kept the vote open deep into the night, walking the House floor with his leadership team, personally lobbying Republicans who were on the fence. At one point, Johnson and several of the holdouts even gathered to pray on the House floor. Afterward, Johnson took a photo of the group.
Trump played a key role in breaking the deadlock. The president got on the phone with several Republicans wavering on the vote, including Reps. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).
By the end of the night, the pressure campaign worked. All eight Republicans who had withheld their votes ended up voting yes. Four members flipped their votes to yes as well. Only one Republican, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), stayed a firm no.
“It looks like the House is ready to vote tonight,” Trump wrote on Truth Social late Wednesday. “We had GREAT conversations all day, and the Republican House Majority is UNITED, for the Good of our Country, delivering the Biggest Tax Cuts in History and MASSIVE Growth. Let’s go Republicans, and everyone else – MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
The vote came after the longest procedural vote in House history — more than seven hours — as Republican leaders scrambled behind closed doors, trying to rescue the measure from collapse. Tensions were high, especially among hardline conservatives who opposed the bill, arguing it spends too much and doesn’t cut enough.
Those complaints only grew after the Senate made changes that added to the federal deficit. Still, the House pushed forward.
The Senate had already passed the bill Tuesday. Once the House votes on final passage — expected Thursday morning — it will head to Trump’s desk, just in time for a July 4th signing ceremony.
After the grueling all-night effort, Johnson and his team are now one vote away from delivering Trump’s biggest legislative victory yet.
