After hours of debate, Senate Republicans advanced President Donald Trump’s agenda, despite two GOP senators breaking ranks.
Two GOP senators from opposite ends of the party—Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul—broke ranks and joined all Democrats in voting “no” as Senate Republicans narrowly advanced President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” in a 51-49 vote, according to a NBC News report.
The facts matter. The people matter. The Senate’s Medicaid approach breaks promises and will kick people off of Medicaid who truly need it. The Senate can make one simple fix to make sure that won’t happen. pic.twitter.com/zvW1AgCxBF
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) June 30, 2025
Unlike Republican Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson and Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie—who were the only two House GOP members to vote against the bill due to concerns over its impact on the national deficit and federal spending. (RELATED: GROVER NORQUIST: A Big Beautiful Bill For July 4 Will Make America Stronger)
Paul’s opposition in the Senate reflected a similar libertarian position, grounded in fiscal restraint and skepticism of expansive federal policy.
Paul criticized the bill, deeming it “much more of a spending bill than a bill that rectifies the debt problem,” according to NBC News.
In separate posts to Truth Social, Trump took aim at Paul while commending Republican Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, along with Lee, Lummis and Scott.
Tillis has strongly criticized the bill’s Medicaid cuts as harmful to North Carolina, stating he “cannot support this bill in its current form” in a press release.
“It would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including our hospitals and rural communities,” he said.
BREAKING NEWS: Rand Paul Condemns ‘Big, Not-So-Beautiful Bill’ On The Se… https://t.co/R8blaDuI42 via @YouTube
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) June 29, 2025
“This will force the state to make painful decisions like eliminating Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands in the expansion population, and even reducing critical services for those in the traditional Medicaid population,” Tillis added. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Thomas Massie Reveals What Would Get Him To ‘Yes’ On Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill)
Trump in a Truth Social post issued an additional warning Sunday after the procedural vote.
“For all cost cutting Republicans, of which I am one, REMEMBER, you still have to get reelected. Don’t go too crazy! We will make it all up, times 10, with GROWTH, more than ever before,” he stated.
The vote remained uncertain for over three hours as several Republicans — Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, Utah Sen. Mike Lee and Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis — initially withheld their support, according to the outlet.
Ultimately, Majority Leader and South Dakota Sen. John Thune and other GOP leaders persuaded them, setting the stage for a final passage vote in the days ahead.
Despite Saturday’s vote, the bill’s final passage remains uncertain in the narrowly divided Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority.
Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins voted to initiate debate on the bill but has expressed reservations, even telling reporters that she would “file several amendments and is ‘leaning against’ it on final passage unless it is substantially revised,” according to NBC News.
One of her proposed changes includes allowing taxes on the highest earners to increase, according to the report.
On Monday Collins declined to say how she plans to vote on the legislation but expressed concerns about Medicaid cuts and other provisions, according to a report from The Hill.
“I’m voting on the amendments, looking at the amendments. I’m not going to make an announcement now,” she said.
Collins has proposed an amendment to boost funding for rural hospitals, according to the outlet.
Maine GOP Sen Susan Collins tells reporters her position “leaning against” the bill hasn’t changed, but cautions “bazillion” more amendments to come and she’ll evaluate final package – remains focused on medicaid provisions and her push to revert top tax rate to pre 2017
— Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrekwalsh) June 30, 2025
Tillis announced after the vote that he would not seek reelection, just hours after Trump threatened to support a primary challenger in response to Tillis’ vote against advancing the administration’s tax and immigration legislation.
Trump blasted Tillis in social media posts Saturday over his vote against the “Big, Beautiful Bill (BBB).”
“North Carolina will not allow one of their Senators to GRANDSTAND in order to get some publicity for himself, for a possible, but very difficult Re-Election,” Trump said in a post to Truth Social. (RELATED: Here’s What Voters In America’s Heartland Think About Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’)
In another Truth Social post, President Trump revealed that several candidates had approached him about launching a primary challenge against Tillis. He added that he would be meeting with them in the coming weeks to identify “someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina and, so importantly, the United States of America.”
The Daily Caller reached out to Tillis and Paul’s offices for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.
