Washington: US President Donald Trump signed his flagship tax and spending bill into law on Friday, during White House Independence Day event that included a stealth bomber flyover. “America is winning, winning, winning like never before,” Trump declared before signing the bill — dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” — surrounded by Republican lawmakers who played a key role in passing it through Congress.
Trump dismissed Democratic criticism that the widely unpopular bill would lead to cuts in social welfare programs, saying, “You won’t even notice it.”
Joined by First Lady Melania Trump, President Trump watched from the White House balcony as two B-2 bombers — of the same kind used in recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites — soared overhead, accompanied by F-35 and F-22 fighter jets.
The 79-year-old took a victory lap just a day after Republicans unified to pass the sweeping mega-bill, enabling him to sign it as planned on the Fourth of July.
The bill delivers on several of Trump’s key campaign promises, including extending tax cuts from his first term, increasing military spending and allocating substantial new funding for his migrant deportation efforts.
The legislation’s signing caps two weeks of significant wins for Trump that have seen him tighten his grip on power and his party alike.
The successes include the recent Iran-Israel ceasefire that was sealed after what he called the “flawless” US air strikes on Iran. Pilots who carried out the bombing on Iran were among those invited to the White House event, which included a picnic for military families on the South Lawn.
“The last two weeks, there has never been anything like it, as far as winning,” said Trump.
Trump had, however, forced through the tax bill despite deep misgivings in the Republican Party that it would balloon the national debt.
The legislation is expected to pile an extra $3.4 trillion over a decade onto the US deficit.
It squeezed past a final vote in the House of Representatives 218-214 after Republican Speaker Mike Johnson worked through the night to corral the final group of dissenters.