Trump, Johnson Deny Cutting Deals to Pass ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

President Donald Trump insisted on Thursday that he made no private concessions to win support from Republican holdouts for the House-passed “Big Beautiful Bill,” telling reporters, “No deals. All I did was talk about how great the bill is.” Trump spoke on the White House South Lawn before leaving for Iowa and the Salute to America celebration. Earlier in the day, House Speaker Mike Johnson likewise said members who shifted their votes in favor of the legislation did not receive “specific commitments or concessions,” pushing back against questions about possible executive orders or promises of future legislation. Johnson argued that support coalesced after lawmakers became more familiar with the bill’s provisions. The House approved the measure on 3 July, though leaders have not publicly detailed the final vote breakdown or the timing of Senate consideration. The bill is a central piece of Trump’s 2025 policy agenda, but its prospects in the upper chamber remain uncertain amid continued Democratic opposition.