Trump’s Disappointment Over Fitzpatrick’s ‘No’ Vote

On Thursday, President Donald Trump expressed his dissatisfaction to Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania after he voted against a significant piece of legislation, often described as a “big beautiful bill.”

This bill successfully passed through the House and is now headed to Trump’s desk. While traveling to Iowa for a July 4th celebration, Trump shared his feelings with correspondent Reagan Reese, indicating he was “disappointed” with Fitzpatrick’s vote against the measure.

House Speaker Mike Johnson had called for a vote on the Budget Act on Wednesday, aiming for the bill’s approval before the holiday. However, in the evening, four Republicans sided with Democrats to vote against it. Johnson kept the vote open as he noticed some GOP members negotiating with those in opposition.

The initial four Republican representatives stalled the progress of the bill. By Thursday, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries had spent over eight hours addressing the assembly, eventually resulting in a final vote tally of 218 to 214 in favor of the bill.

Fitzpatrick responded to the backlash regarding his vote, issuing a statement on his website. He mentioned that the Senate’s amendments to Medicaid and other provisions had altered the situation for his constituents.

He wrote: “I voted for stronger protections for Medicaid, extending middle-class tax cuts, enhancing tax relief for small and medium businesses, and making historic investments in border security and military.” He went on to explain that what ultimately influenced his decision was the Senate’s alteration regarding Medicaid.

Fitzpatrick emphasized, “The original language from the House was designed to safeguard our community. Unfortunately, the Senate changes fell short of our requirements. I am committed to advocating for beneficial policies for my constituents, which guides my legislative choices.”

In the weeks before the vote, Rep. Thomas Massie had been vocal about his opposition among a handful of GOP lawmakers. Trump, during a tense time in the U.S. concerning Iran, criticized Massie’s resistance to the June bill, suggesting it could affect lawmakers’ chances in upcoming elections.

Trump stated, “MAGA should distance itself from Tom Massie, this pathetic loser. The positive aspect is there’s an excellent American patriot challenging him in the Republican primary. I’m heavily supporting the Kentucky campaign.”

Kentucky legislators told sources that if a “skinny” version of the bill passes, they would likely support it as long as it doesn’t significantly cut government spending. Following the final push against the law on Thursday, Massie mentioned to reporters, “It’s just not appealing enough for me to back it.”

Fitzpatrick’s office has not yet provided a comment regarding these developments.