Trump to Sign His Massive Tax Bill at White House July 4th Picnic/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump is set to sign his sweeping tax and spending cuts bill during the White House’s July Fourth picnic. The legislation delivers Trump’s major second-term priority but stirs fierce opposition over cuts to social programs. Democrats vow to make it a central election issue.
Trump Tax Bill Quick Looks
- Trump to sign bill during White House July 4 picnic.
- Bill extends 2017 tax cuts, slashes social spending.
- Projects $3.3 trillion added to national debt.
- Nearly 12 million could lose health insurance.
- Democrats condemn bill as a gift to the wealthy.
- Upcoming elections likely to center on bill’s impact.
Deep Look
Trump Set to Sign Sweeping Tax and Spending Cuts Bill at White House July Fourth Celebration
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to sign his massive tax cuts and spending reductions into law Friday, crowning a major legislative achievement that could define his second-term legacy — and deepen political fault lines across the nation.
Trump’s signing ceremony is slated for the White House’s annual Fourth of July picnic, an event set against a patriotic backdrop featuring fighter jets and stealth bombers soaring overhead.
“This bill is going to make this country into a rocket ship. It’s going to be really great,” Trump declared, touting the legislation as a transformative boost for America’s economy and future.
But Democrats fiercely disagree, labeling the bill a dangerous giveaway to corporations and the wealthy that will strip millions of Americans of critical health coverage and social support.
“I never thought that I’d be on the House floor saying that this is a crime scene,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, during a record-breaking eight-hour speech that delayed final passage. “It’s a crime scene, going after the health, and the safety, and the well-being of the American people.”
Sweeping Changes, Deep Divisions
The legislation extends Trump’s 2017 multi-trillion-dollar tax cuts and enacts $1.2 trillion in reductions to Medicaid and food assistance programs. It also dramatically increases immigration enforcement spending, allocating billions for new migrant detention centers.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will add $3.3 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade, with nearly 12 million Americans projected to lose health insurance coverage.
Passage came after months of intense political maneuvering. The House approved the bill largely along party lines on Thursday, while the Senate passed it by a single vote margin. Vice President JD Vance cast the deciding vote after North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis, who faced Trump’s ire over his opposition, announced he would not seek reelection.
In the House, two Republicans voted against the bill. One, libertarian-leaning Representative Tom Massie of Kentucky, has already become a target of Trump’s influential political machine.
A Rejection of Democratic Agendas
The measure effectively dismantles signature achievements of the Obama and Biden administrations, rolling back Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and eliminating tax incentives for renewable energy championed by President Biden.
At a rally in Iowa Thursday night kicking off festivities for America’s upcoming 250th birthday, Trump celebrated the legislative win.
“I want to thank Republican congressmen and women, because what they did is incredible,” he said. Trump also lashed out at Democrats, claiming, “They hate Trump — but I hate them, too.”
Election Flashpoint
The new law is certain to loom large over next year’s midterm elections. Democrats are already planning rallies, voter registration drives, attack ads, bus tours, and even multi-day vigils to highlight what they argue are the bill’s most damaging provisions.
While Trump described the package as “very popular” upon his return to Washington early Friday, public sentiment appears split.
A Washington Post/Ipsos poll revealed nuanced opinions: majorities support specific provisions like boosting the child tax credit and eliminating taxes on tips, while many oppose cuts to food assistance for low-income families or spending $45 billion to expand migrant detention facilities. Alarmingly for Republicans, about 60% of Americans said it was “unacceptable” that the bill could increase the national debt by over $3 trillion in the next decade.
As Trump prepares to sign the bill on America’s birthday, he cements a major legislative milestone. Yet it’s a victory that could just as easily become a rallying cry for Democrats seeking to challenge his party’s hold on power in the years ahead.
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