US President Donald Trump has signed into law the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, a legislative package combining tax cuts, increased defence spending, and expanded funding for border security, describing it as a “triumph of democracy on the birthday of democracy”.
The signing ceremony, held during a military family picnic on the White House South Lawn to coincide with US Independence Day, marked a high-stakes political victory for Trump, whose administration had pushed hard for the bill’s finalisation by 4 July. “We made promises, and it's really promises made, promises kept, and we've kept them,” Trump told guests from the balcony, adding, “The people are happy.”
The event, set against a festive backdrop, was attended by First Lady Melania Trump, senior Cabinet members, and Republican lawmakers, including Speaker Mike Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Whip Tom Emmer, and Representative Jason Smith. A pair of B-2 bombers, the same aircraft used in last month’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, performed a ceremonial flypast, underlining the military credentials of the bill.
The legislation, passed by a razor-thin margin of 218–214 in the House of Representatives on Thursday, saw two Republicans, Thomas Massie and Brian Fitzpatrick, break ranks to vote against it. Just two days prior, the US Senate had cleared the bill 51–50, with Vice-President JD Vance casting the deciding vote.
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The White House has described the measure as a central pillar of Trump’s policy agenda, aimed at bolstering both economic momentum and national security in the lead-up to the 2026 midterms. The President, posting on social media after the House vote, declared: “The Republicans in the House of Representatives have just passed the 'ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT.’ Our Party is UNITED like never before, and our Country is HOT.”
Observers noted the significance of the bill’s timing, both symbolically and strategically. With tensions still simmering after recent US-Iran hostilities and economic anxieties lingering, Trump has sought to frame the legislation as a stabilising force that rewards working families while reaffirming America's strength on the world stage.
While critics have argued the bill favours defence contractors and fails to address income inequality, the administration maintains that tax relief and national security investment are crucial to rebuilding post-pandemic confidence.
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