‘You’ve been so negative’: Trump scolds Ron Johnson into backing down from fierce megabill opposition

Senate GOP’s conservative hard-liners who previously opposed the megabill are showing signs of softening their stance, particularly Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who has notably shifted his position in recent weeks.

According to Politico, the change in tone comes as the White House and Republican leadership work intensively to secure crucial votes for the legislation, focusing particularly on three key senators: Ron Johnson, Mike Lee of Utah, and Rick Scott of Florida.

During a recent meeting with Finance Committee Republicans, Trump directly addressed Johnson’s negative public comments about the bill. “When the president says, ‘Ron, you’ve been so negative, that’s just not even helpful,’ I want to be helpful,” Johnson acknowledged, admitting he had “downplayed what is good in the bill.”

White House employs strategic approach to win over fiscal hawks

The administration has engaged in a targeted campaign to secure support from conservative senators, arranging private meetings and negotiations over specific provisions. Johnson, for instance, received a personal phone call from Trump and later met with Vice President JD Vance and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett to discuss his deficit reduction plan.

Just weeks ago, Johnson demanded extensive spending cuts and warned about the bill’s impact on the national deficit. However, following the administration’s engagement efforts, he has adopted a more conciliatory tone, stating, “We all want to see President Trump succeed. Everybody is trying to help.”

The shift in position from these fiscal hawks is crucial for Majority Leader John Thune, who can only afford to lose three GOP senators, with Vice President Vance potentially breaking a tie. The leadership already faces one confirmed “no” vote from Senator Rand Paul, who opposes the bill’s debt ceiling increase.

The negotiations continue as senators push for additional concessions. Mike Lee is seeking to include his REINS Act, a deregulatory proposal, while Johnson is advocating for a “forcing mechanism” to maintain long-term spending reductions. Republican colleagues appear confident that these holdouts will eventually support the bill, with Senator John Kennedy remarking, “They’re very gettable.”

Despite ongoing resistance and continued demands for modifications, the tone from the conservative senators has notably shifted. Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham has promised Johnson a second reconciliation bill for additional spending cuts, though Johnson maintains this alone would not secure his support. Meanwhile, House conservatives express concern that the Senate might weaken their hard-won policy victories in the final version of the bill.