Trump Discusses Budget Bill, Calls Putin and Zelenskyy Amidst Ukraine Aid Review

Budget Bill Passage and Republican Support

• 🏛️ President Trump urged House Republicans to pass the Senate bill, warning that Maga supporters were unhappy and it could cost votes.
• ✅ Following procedural votes, Trump celebrated the bill's progress, with the White House planning a signing ceremony.
• 🤝 Trump actively engaged with House Republican holdouts, hosting them at the White House to secure support for the budget.
• 🎯 The White House emphasizes the bill's importance as a cornerstone of Trump's agenda, especially with potential shifts in congressional party control.

Medicaid and Medicare Provisions

• ⚠️ Concerns were raised about potential impacts of Medicaid cuts on Republican lawmakers in the 2026 midterms.
• 🔍 The White House counters that provisions related to Medicaid and Medicare are aimed at rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse.
• 📈 The bill includes increased funding for border security, tax cuts, and no federal taxes on tips, overtime, or Social Security.
• 📉 However, the bill also institutes mandatory work requirements for adults without dependents, reduces federal Medicaid contributions, and could impact rural hospitals.
• 🗣️ Democrats plan to leverage these provisions as a political vulnerability for Republicans in the upcoming elections.

Calls with Putin and Zelenskyy

• 📞 President Trump is scheduled to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
• 🇺🇦 The calls are expected to address the Russia-Ukraine war, particularly following the Trump administration's pause on weapon shipments to Ukraine.
• ❓ The White House stated the pause was part of an overall review of U.S. foreign aid, but it draws scrutiny given Zelenskyy's requests for more weapons.
• 🔍 Discussions are anticipated to focus on the ongoing conflict and U.S. support for Ukraine.
• 📰 The public will be looking to Truth Social and White House readouts for information on the outcomes of these calls.