“Biggest Spending Cut in Over 30 Years” — Johnson Fires Back at Critics
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Speaker Mike Johnson defended President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” in the face of fierce opposition from fiscal conservatives like Senator Rand Paul, who criticized the proposal as “wimpy and anemic.” But Johnson insists the bill marks a turning point in U.S. fiscal policy, calling it the largest spending cut in over three decades — possibly ever.
“This is the biggest spending cut, I think, in the history of government on planet Earth,” Johnson told host Shannon Bream.
He admitted the cuts aren’t enough to fully resolve the national debt crisis but emphasized that the bill is a critical first step in reversing decades of overspending.
Debt Ceiling Extension: A Necessary Concession?
The bill also includes a debt ceiling extension, a feature that has drawn ire from both the right and the left. But Johnson argued it’s the only way to keep the economy afloat given that Democrats refuse to cooperate.
“To get it through the Senate and avoid crashing the U.S. economy, defaulting for the first time in history, it has to be part of the reconciliation package,” Johnson explained.
He was careful to note that the extension does not authorize new spending, but is instead a signal to global markets that the U.S. Congress is committed to fiscal stability.
Trump’s Role: “Dialed In 100 Percent”
According to Johnson, Donald Trump is not just the namesake of the bill — he’s its driving force.
“President Trump is dialed in 100 percent,” Johnson said. “He does not want to spend more money, and he has the same concern about the national debt that Rand Paul and I do.”
The Speaker praised Trump’s visionary leadership, claiming the former president is deeply invested in reining in federal spending and preserving the nation’s financial future.
Rand Paul and Senate Holdouts
While Johnson claims he respects Senator Rand Paul’s conviction, he pushed back on the idea that Trump’s bill lacks teeth.
“What I think Rand is missing… is that we are quite serious about this,” Johnson said. “We have a delicate balance, and we have to start the process.”
Still, with Senator Ron Johnson and others in the upper chamber vowing to kill the bill, its future in the Senate remains uncertain.
The Bottom Line
Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is being billed as a historic first strike against runaway spending — but to critics, it’s barely a scratch. Speaker Mike Johnson insists it’s a necessary step toward fiscal discipline, while others fear it’s just another bloated compromise.
Whether it’s the first domino in fixing America’s debt crisis or just another political showpiece will depend on whether the Senate follows suit — or shuts it down.