Donald Trump did not wait a minute to boast, because as soon as the House gave the go-ahead, he came out to say that this budget package is, in his own words, “the biggest bill of its kind ever signed”. For him, this plan is the rocket that the U.S. economy needs to take off again.
Before boarding his plane to Iowa, where he began his tour for the 250th anniversary of the independence (to be celebrated in 2026), Trump let out a phrase that he repeated to the press: “It will be great for everyone, especially for our border”.
Neither slow nor lazy, he turned the approval into an impromptu rally since the bill was approved by: 218 votes in favor and 214 against. In that sense, two Republicans stood up and voted against it, worried about the debt and the blow to green investment, no small thing.
Negotiations until the wee hours of the morning and a celebration with electoral flavor
The truth is that this approval did not fall from the sky, there were tug-of-war, secret meetings and midnight calls. Trump put his face to convince his people not to block the law with the objective of signing it before July 4, Independence Day.
Mike Johnson, who chairs the lower House, and John Thune, strong hand in the Senate, joined ranks in record time. The result? A $4.5 trillion federal package that beefs up defense, adjusts taxes and shields the border. For the Republican base, it’s electoral dynamite.
“Only one man could close this deal,” blurted Anna Paulina Luna, one of those who defended Trump in the corridors. And yes, he got what he wanted: that no one would steal the photo of him signing the law on the same day that independence is celebrated.
Armored border, lower taxes and criticisms of cuts
And what does this famous law bring? For starters, more money to beef up the Pentagon. Also billions to expand detention centers and hire more border agents. Not to mention the new miles of wall that Trump always promises and that more than one thought was already a thing of the past.
On the fiscal front, one of the most eye-catching hooks is the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime. According to the White House, this will put a few extra dollars in the pockets of millions of service sector workers.
But beware that not everyone is celebrating, but there are voices within the party that warn that the cut to Medicaid, there is talk of a billion dollars less, could leave millions without coverage, but in this case it happens in an election year, and that weighs.
Meanwhile for Trump, outside: Ukraine, Gaza and Iran
While selling his victory at home, Trump had to respond on international policy. And there was not so much optimism there. He admitted that, for now, he did not manage to move Putin from his position. Ukraine remains without a ceasefire and the conflict has been dragging on for more than two years.
With Gaza, Trump dropped a change. He said his goal is to ensure the safety of the civilian population and is pressing Netanyahu to unlock a 60-day truce. Israel has already said yes; Hamas, for now, remains hesitant.
On Iran, the president again left the door ajar. He insists that Tehran wants to resume talks on its nuclear program. “I think they want to talk,” he blurted out, almost in passing that according to him, it is better to dialogue than to return to another escalation. Meanwhile, the US leader continues touring the country, which for him is a round victory, will it be enough to shore up his second term? To tell the truth, nobody knows.