The US Senate descended into political gridlock overnight as lawmakers entered a marathon voting session on Donald Trump’s heavily promoted “one big beautiful bill,” with dozens of proposed amendments clogging legislative progress. The contentious package, which blends hardline immigration policy with sweeping federal spending commitments, has exposed deep divides within both parties, casting doubt over its survival.
Republicans, attempting to harness Trump’s momentum ahead of the presidential election, have rallied behind the bill’s branding but remain fractured over its substance. Key figures like Senator Josh Hawley have pushed for stricter border controls and tougher enforcement mechanisms, while others in the GOP worry that Trump’s rhetoric risks alienating moderates.
On the Democratic side, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described the bill as “political theatre masquerading as governance.” He accused Republicans of leveraging the legislative process to appease Trump’s base rather than engage in meaningful policy-making. “This is not how a serious country legislates,” he told reporters, vowing to strip out provisions he called “morally and economically ruinous.”
The Senate’s vote-a-rama, an often chaotic procedural tool used to test and modify budget-related legislation, stretched through the night as senators offered dozens of amendments, some symbolic, others substantive. Progressive Democrats attempted to insert guarantees for reproductive rights and student debt relief, while conservatives advanced motions to limit Department of Justice funding and broaden presidential immunity.
Trump, from his campaign headquarters in Florida, posted frequently on Truth Social, urging senators to “stay strong” and labelling dissenters as “weak” or “fake conservatives.” His influence loomed large, with several Republican senators admitting privately they feared backlash from Trump-aligned voters.
Despite the drama, it remains unclear whether the bill will make it to a final floor vote. Several moderate senators, including Mitt Romney and Joe Manchin, have yet to commit, citing concerns about constitutional overreach and long-term fiscal implications. Analysts warn that even if the bill passes the Senate, it faces near-certain defeat in the Democratic-led House.
The episode has once again highlighted the Republican Party’s internal struggle to navigate Trump’s influence while attempting to legislate coherently. It has also deepened partisan acrimony in Washington, with Democrats accusing the GOP of hijacking governance in pursuit of spectacle.
As the Senate prepares for another round of procedural hurdles, the fate of the “beautiful bill” remains in limbo—its legacy perhaps more symbolic of Trump’s combative style than of any concrete policy breakthrough.
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