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Senate begins debate on Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'

PHOTO: The U.S. Capitol building after sunrise as clerks continue to read aloud President Donald Trump's 940-page spending and tax bill in the Senate chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 29, 2025.
35:28
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
President Trump speaks at 'Salute to America' celebration in Iowa
By David Brennan, Alexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: June 26, 2025, 5:41 PM

The Senate on Sunday afternoon began debate on President Donald Trump's megabill for his second term priorities after a dramatic procedural vote late Saturday night.

There is up to 20 hours of debate but while Democrats will use their allotted 10 hours, Republicans are expected not to. After that, likely in the early hours of Monday, senators will begin offering amendments to the bill.

Overnight Sunday, the Senate parliamentarian ruled more provisions out of order with the reconciliation process Republicans are using to pass the bill with a simple majority. If it passes in the Senate, the bill goes back to the House to consider changes the Senate made to the House's version of the bill, which passed by one vote.

Latest headlines:

  • Senate begins debate Trump’s megabill
  • CBO estimates ‘big, beautiful bill’ would add $3.3T to debt
  • Trump once thought Iran would join Abraham Accords
Here's how the news is developing.

Jun 26, 2025 5:41 PM

Leavitt deflects questions about potential removal of Senate parliamentarian

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt deflected the question of whether Trump thinks the Senate parliamentarian should be removed after her rejection of the Medicaid provision under Trump's bill, deferring to the president himself.

"I haven't spoken to him about that and I'll let him speak on it," she said. "However, again, he knows this is part of the process and the inner workings of a Senate and he wants to see this bill done."

Leavitt added that Trump "remains very much engaged" in conversations on both the House and Senate side regarding the bill.


Jun 26, 2025 5:35 PM

Leavitt claims there is an effort to divide Trump's team with leaks

The press secretary was asked about the recent leaks to the press claiming that "there's an effort on the outside of this building to try to divide the president's team on the inside."

PHOTO: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, June 26, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, June 26, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP

"But I can assure you, the president's team is strong, especially the national security team. Everyone is very proud of the president, of our commander in chief and of our military for the successful operation that took place on Saturday night," she added.


Jun 26, 2025 5:32 PM

Despite blocking of key Medicaid provision in Trump's bill, White House remains committed to deadline

Following the Senate parliamentarian's blocking of a key Medicaid provision from Trump's bill, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recognized this as "part of the process" and reiterated the president's July Fourth deadline.

"I know that there was a ruling by the Senate parliamentarian this morning. Look, this is part of the process," she said. "This is part of the inner workings of the United States Senate, but the president is adamant about seeing this bill on his desk here at the White House by Independence Day."

"I think our friends in both the Senate and the House know exactly where the president stands on Medicaid," Leavitt added, emphasizing the president's desire to eliminate "waste, fraud, and abuse."

PHOTO: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, June 26, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, June 26, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP


Jun 26, 2025 5:23 PM

Trade deal deadline not 'critical,' Leavitt says

Next week is the deadline for the trade deals with the majority of other countries before the White House issues its tariffs.

Leavitt was asked if that deal is still "hard and fast."

"The deadline is not critical. The president can simply provide these countries with a deal if they refuse to make us one by the deadline," she said, adding that the president can make a reciprocal tariff rate.

PHOTO: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, June 26, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, June 26, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Jun 24, 2025 1:32 PM

Hegseth and Caine in Situation Room

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine were in the Situation Room as Iran carried out an attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar, a senior Department of Defense official told ABC News.

The president was inside the Oval Office when Iran launched its retaliatory strike on the U.S. base in Qatar; a senior administration official told ABC News. The president received his national security briefing in the Oval Office, as listed on his public schedule.

Caine and Hegseth tracked the developments in the Situation Room along with other senior officials, according to a senior administration official.

Members of the president's national security team circled in and out of the Oval Office throughout much of today to provide updates, the official said.

--Editor's note: This has been corrected to reflect that President Trump was in the Oval Office during the Iranian attack.


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