US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending cuts bill has passed a key procedural vote in the US Senate, according to a report in the Associated Press. In a tense and dramatic late-night session Saturday, Senate Republicans narrowly advanced Trump’s sweeping package of tax cuts, spending reductions and increased deportation funding, edging closer to meeting his July Fourth deadline.

The 51-49 procedural vote followed hours of gridlock, with Vice President JD Vance present at the Capitol to potentially cast a tie-breaking vote. For over three hours, voting stalled as Republican holdouts engaged in intense negotiations and private discussions off the Senate floor. Ultimately, two GOP senators broke ranks to oppose the motion, joining all Democrats in dissent.

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