The U.S. House of Representatives approved President Trump’s tax cut and border plan on Tuesday evening, giving a significant boost to the new administration’s agenda for 2025.
All Democratic lawmakers voted against it, while one abstained. One Republican lawmaker expressed opposition to the president’s plan in the 217-215 vote.
The approval came after a series of unusual maneuvers by House Speaker, Republican Mike Johnson, who initially canceled the vote, notifying lawmakers that there would be no further votes that night. He later changed course and called the budget to a vote.
The shift in events occurred after Johnson and the second-ranking Republican in the House, Steve Scalise, spent hours convincing undecided members to support the plan, a preliminary step for extending the 2017 tax cuts passed during President Trump’s first term.
Both leaders stated that President Trump had also contacted hesitant lawmakers to emphasize the need to push forward his $4.5 trillion tax cut plan, which also includes funding efforts to deport immigrants living illegally in the U.S., tightening border security, eliminating excessive regulations in the energy sector, and covering military expenses, reports VOA.
“The President has spoken with a number of lawmakers. He has made his intentions clear and wants them to vote and move this forward,” said Johnson.
