US: Trump Reiterates Costly Tax Pledges And Commits To 'Saving Medicaid

US President Donald Trump, speaking at a prayer event in the White House Rose Garden, says he has received an “update” from Congressional leaders on the ‘big beautiful’ Republican reconciliation bill. He notes the bill will be the “biggest ever passed by Congress.”

• Trump says he had a “really good meeting” with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), Energy, Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO), and Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY).
• Trump reiterates his support for no taxes on tips, overtime pay, or social security – a pledge that is not clearly facilitated by the Republican budget blueprint, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated could be financed by tariff revenue.
• He also repeats support for interest deductions for US-made cars, another pledge that doesn’t easily fit into the budget blueprint. He says: “If it’s not made in America, we really don’t care if you buy it or not.”
• Trump says the final details are “coming together and they’re coming together rapidly and I think we’re right on schedule.”
• Trump says “one of the important things will be saving Medicaid for Americans in need,” highlighting the mathematical problem for Johnson in the coming weeks: Preserving safety net programmes while funding Trump’s costly tax agenda.
• The Energy and Commerce Committee, overseeing Medicaid, is scheduled to mark up their portion of the bill on May 7. They have been tasked with finding USD$880 billion is spending cuts, which appears impossible without deep cuts to Medicaid.