In a razor-thin 215-214 vote late Wednesday night, House Republicans managed to pass President Donald Trump’s top legislative priority: the “Big Beautiful Bill.” The bill now heads to the Senate, where it faces an uphill battle—but its survival in the House is already a political upset.

The final tally was closer than anyone expected, with two Republicans—Reps. Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson—voting against the measure. Despite their defections, Speaker Mike Johnson, nicknamed “Magic Mike” by colleagues after the dramatic win, cobbled together just enough support to push it across the finish line.

This wasn’t a given. For weeks, Washington insiders and media critics predicted the bill would fail due to deep GOP infighting. Yet Johnson pulled off what many thought impossible: bringing together the Freedom Caucus, SALT Caucus, Main Street Republicans, and moderate members into one fragile coalition.

That success didn’t come easy. It took a marathon White House meeting on Wednesday afternoon with President Trump himself personally rallying House members behind the legislation. Reports suggest the SALT Caucus walked away with some of the state and local tax deductions they had demanded, helping seal the deal.

The bill, officially designated HB 1, contains a mix of spending cuts, tax provisions, and deficit-reduction measures. It is also designed to lock in and extend the Trump tax cuts, which are set to expire if Congress fails to act.

House Republicans had strong incentive to deliver. The looming expiration of tax cuts had already spooked bond markets, and instability around the bill’s fate caused shockwaves on Wall Street. With the stock market rattled and investor confidence faltering, the GOP knew it couldn’t afford another high-profile failure.

But political motives were just as strong. Trump has staked his second-term domestic agenda on this bill, calling it the cornerstone of his plan to restore fiscal sanity and economic growth. Getting it through the House, even by a single vote, allows Republicans to say they’re delivering for voters—and for Trump.

Now comes the hard part. The Senate is expected to be a tougher battleground, where Democrats and a few centrist Republicans may attempt to gut key provisions or block it entirely. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said he hopes to get a final version passed before July 4, but the legislative calendar and mounting opposition could push that timeline.

If the Senate amends the bill significantly, the House would be forced to take it up again, likely dragging negotiations into August. That’s when the Treasury says the U.S. will hit the debt ceiling—making the Big Beautiful Bill not just a policy priority, but a potential economic lifeline.

For now, Trump and GOP leaders are savoring the win. After months of dysfunction and party infighting, the House finally rallied around a signature conservative achievement.

The final vote also sent a clear message: Trump still commands loyalty, and when the chips are down, most Republicans are willing to follow his lead. The President is expected to tout the bill’s passage at rallies and press appearances in the coming days, reminding voters exactly who delivered it.

One vote made all the difference. And in Washington, one vote can change everything.