In a recent statement, former President Donald Trump declared, “America’s winning, winning, winning like never before,” in reference to the administration's recent bombing campaign against Iran’s nuclear program. He emphasized that the flyover was intended to honor this military action, remarking, “Promises made, promises kept and we’ve kept them.” The White House was decked out in vibrant red, white, and blue bunting for the regular Fourth of July festivities, while the United States Marine Band performed a mix of traditional patriotic marches alongside pop classics from the 1980s, featuring artists like Chaka Khan and Huey Lewis.
However, the legislative package that Trump celebrated has prompted significant backlash from Democratic leaders, who characterize it as a giveaway to the wealthy. They argue that this bill will jeopardize health insurance, food assistance, and financial stability for millions of lower-income Americans. “I never thought that I’d be on the House floor saying that this is a crime scene,” stated Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York during a record-breaking speech that delayed the bill’s passage by over eight hours. He described the legislation as an attack on the health, safety, and well-being of the American populace.
This controversial legislation extends Trump’s 2017 multitrillion-dollar tax cuts and proposes cuts to Medicaid and food stamps amounting to $1.2 trillion. Additionally, it facilitates a substantial increase in immigration enforcement. According to Congress’ nonpartisan scorekeeper, nearly 12 million more individuals are projected to lose their health insurance under the new law.
The bill passed the House on a largely party-line vote, concluding a months-long effort by the GOP to consolidate its legislative priorities into a single budget bill. This strategy was designed to prevent Senate Democrats from obstructing the legislation through filibustering. The Senate ultimately approved the bill by a narrow margin, with North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis announcing he would not seek reelection after facing backlash from Trump for his opposition. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.
This legislation signifies a substantial repudiation of the policies of the last two Democratic presidents, Barack Obama and Joe Biden. It rolls back Obama’s Medicaid expansion and dismantles Biden’s tax credits aimed at promoting renewable energy. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the package will contribute an additional $3.3 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade, leading to 11.8 million individuals lacking health coverage.
Trump celebrated his political triumph during an Iowa event marking the country’s upcoming 250th birthday. He expressed gratitude to Republican congressmen and women for their support, asserting that their efforts were “incredible.” He also claimed that Democrats opposed the bill out of animosity towards him, stating, “they hate Trump — but I hate them, too.”
The package is poised to become a pivotal issue in the forthcoming midterm elections, prompting Democrats to initiate extensive campaigns featuring rallies, voter registration drives, attack ads, and multiday vigils. These efforts aim to spotlight the most contentious aspects of the legislation.
Upon returning to Washington, Trump described the package as “very popular,” despite polling indicating mixed public sentiment. A recent Washington Post/Ipsos poll revealed that while many U.S. adults support increasing the annual child tax credit and eliminating taxes on earnings from tips, a majority oppose reducing federal funding for food assistance to low-income families. Additionally, approximately 60% of respondents found it “unacceptable” that the bill is projected to increase the $36 trillion U.S. debt by more than $3 trillion over the next decade.
