WASHINGTON, July 5 — Under the blazing summer sun and against a backdrop of roaring fighter jets, President Donald Trump signed into law one of the most sweeping and controversial tax and spending packages in modern US history — transforming a solemn act of governance into a spectacle that felt more like a campaign rally than a policy announcement.
The event, held on the South Lawn of the White House during Independence Day celebrations, drew hundreds of supporters, including military families, lawmakers, and staffers, all waving flags and cheering as Trump, flanked by Republican leaders, took to the podium. His tone was triumphant.
“I’ve never seen people so happy,” Trump declared, crediting the bill with delivering for “the military, civilians of all types, jobs of all types.” He described the legislation as historic — claiming it includes the biggest tax cut, the deepest spending cuts, and the largest border security investment America has ever seen.
But behind the fanfare, the bill — passed just the day before with a razor-thin 218–214 vote in the House — is already sowing deep political division. Critics argue it comes at a heavy cost: millions could lose health insurance, funding for safety net programs will shrink, and it adds an estimated US$3 trillion to the already staggering US$36.2 trillion national debt.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered a marathon speech against the bill, speaking for nearly nine hours in a passionate plea to defend working-class families, whom he said would suffer the most. “This is a massive gift to the wealthy,” he warned, “paid for by everyday Americans.”
Still, most Republicans rallied behind the president. Only two broke ranks to vote against the bill, even as concerns about its long-term economic impact lingered.
Democratic leaders are already looking ahead. “Today, Donald Trump sealed the fate of the Republican Party,” said Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin. “This bill doesn’t help working families — it helps billionaires. The GOP will have to answer for this betrayal at the ballot box.”
As fireworks lit up the sky over Washington that evening, the nation remained divided — hopeful for prosperity, fearful of the consequences, and bracing for the political battles yet to come.
