Trump's tax proposal for wealthy causes chaos among Republican lawmakers

It's hard to know what you want. It's hard to know what others want. But if what you want depends on what others want...they are not sure them think?

So, when they try to ratify the Big and Beautiful Act, they are now facing the puzzle of congressional Republicans.

Gopers are waiting for President Trump to push for very specific items in the bill, or land next to it.

Congressional Republicans are closely aligned with the president and are willing to meet his wishes. But it complicates things when Trump asks him to call it a "tiny" tax increase in the super-rich.

Trump says tax hikes are "good politics" and rejects Republican critics

The House member committee held a marking hearing on May 13, 2025 at the Longworth House building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

"Frankly, the rich. I would love to do that. In order to make middle-income and lower-income people (have) more people (have) more. So, it's really a reallocation."

First, President Trump proposed a form of ration that limits how many pencils a child needs or how many dolls a little girl should have. This is confusing to the freelance marketers in the Republican Party.

Now, use his phrase “redistribute”.

You understand how much heartburn this has brought to the capitalists in Congress. But worse is the mixed messaging.

When writing truth social aspects about creating higher tax scope for the rich, the president's instructions to legislators are confused:

"Republicans probably shouldn't do that, but if they do, I'm OK!!!" announced President Trump.

Civil War threatens Republicans to raise taxes on Trump's "big and beautiful bill"

The nasty congressional Republican objected to the proposal of any taxes - a long-standing Republican mission.

In another political universe, taxing the rich is at best a test balloon. So most congressional Republicans think it's time to get popular.

“No, we are not going to increase taxes,” R-Calif’s Rep. Darrell Issa said on Fox Business.

Rep. Darrell Issa of R-Calif participated in the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 17, 2024. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

"We don't want to raise taxes on anyone. I mean, we're going to lower taxes on Americans," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (D.).

But President Trump's Republican Party is very different from the Reagan Republican Party. The Republican Party moved where Trump wanted. Just consider the tariff approach compared to free trade.

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President Trump expanded the party's base in the last election. The Republican Party is no longer dominated by big corporations, business giants and wealthy people. Part of the president’s appeal was the blue-collar alliance he pieced together. His basic economic information about taxation resonates with millions of voters. That's why his top adviser says Trump sticks to his campaign commitments.

"President Trump made it clear that he had his own priorities, like no tax on tips. No overtime tax. No tax on social security," said Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Commission.

But the income generated from the new taxes of the rich can help pay for the cost of cutting expenses.

“We need to look at what we need to do to make sure we are doing well financially, not just adding debt,” Rep. Adrian Smith said.

But, in House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.

The tax break should be about $45 trillion at some point. They have been reduced to $4 trillion. They tend to lock in $2 trillion in tax cuts. They scaled to $1.5 trillion.

"Hard No": Millionaire tax hike proposal split House Republicans

“Republicans are talking about a big game on the campaign,” said Jodey Arrington, chairman of the House Budget Committee. “If we can’t bend the curve on mandatory spending, we’re sending a very bad signal to the bond market.”

But whatever is in the package, the White House expects Congressional Republicans to finally vote for the “big and beautiful Bill.”

"The president has great political instincts. That's why he's back in the Oval Office," said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.

But that's why Congressional Republicans think it's so annoying. The president may have great political instincts. But the marching order is far from clear.

Trump acknowledged that tax hikes could be politically controversial.

Congressional Republicans suffer from political PTSD. They remember another Republican president who made one of the most famous political commitments ever. Then break it.

On the South Lawn of the White House, U.S. President George H.W. Bush spoke before the signing ceremony of the Americans with Disabilities Act (or ADA) of 1990, Washington, DC, July 26, 1990. (Ron Sachs/CNP/Getty Images)

In 1989, the late President George HW Bush said: “There is no new tax.”

But Bush famously reversed himself as part of the 1990 budget agreement. This is not necessarily the reason why Bush 41 lost to former President Clinton in 1992. President Trump must point this out on social media.

Trump slams Republican "public watchers" against the budget bill, predicting that if it fails, U.S. tax revenue will increase

"The madman of radical left-wing Democrats would scream, 'read my lips, 'lips'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Presidential candidate Ross Perot spoke during the 1992 presidential debate. (Wally McNamee/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Image)

The "Perot Effect" undoubtedly deprived George HW Bush of the scope of his second term rather than breaking the promise of "no new taxes". But that doesn't mean Republicans aren't very upset with the vote to increase taxes.

Regardless, the legislative products that appear in this week’s committee mark lack the type of tax that President Trump hangs.

That is, Congressional Republicans certainly have an opinion on their views on the developing “big and beautiful bill.”

“We are growing and more people, we don’t want smoke and mirrors,” said Rep. “The $2 trillion (cut into) is indeed a teardrop in the ocean.”

"You already have the pre-tax (cuts). The spending constraints you bear," R-Texas's Rep. Chip Roy tortured. “Medicaid reform and work requirements have not been launched for four years.”

"It will be ironic and sad, and the Conservatives will vote for the biggest increase in the debt ceiling," mused Senator Rand Paul, R-KY. "I think it will be a bit vague in terms of cuts to cut spending, maybe a bit w in taxes."

So at least some Republicans have mastered what they want in the bill. They are willing to take guidance from the president. That's why clear guidance at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will be key next week as the house tries to pass the measure.

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Members will say they cannot vote for the bill because it has or does not include the bill. But if President Trump knows what he wants, they might vote and make it clear to lawmakers.

Chad Pergram is currently a senior congressional correspondent for Fox News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is located in Washington, D.C.