Democrats are angry that Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ has been passed

The House of Representatives narrowly passed Republicans’ sprawling tax-and-spending bill, delivering a major second-term victory for President Trump and again demonstrating his power to keep GOP lawmakers in line.

The vote was 218 in favor and 214 against. All 212 Democrats voted against the bill, while 2 Republicans crossed the aisle to join the Democrats in opposing it. 218 of the 220 GOP House members voted to pass the bill.

The measure now goes to President Trump’s desk ahead of the July 4th target he set for Congress to finish the legislation, which cuts taxes, boosts border security, and lowers social safety-net spending.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday evening, Trump said the bill would “turn this country into a rocket ship”. “This is going to be a great bill for the country,” he said. A triumphant Republican Speaker Mike Johnson emerged from the House after the vote and told reporters “belief” was key to rallying support within his party.

“I believed in the people that are standing here behind me… Some of them are more fun to deal with,” he said. “I mean that with the greatest level of respect.” After Johnson announced that the legislation had passed the chamber by four votes, dozens of Republican lawmakers gathered on the House floor chanting “USA! USA!”

The bill’s passage on Thursday was delayed by Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who delivered the longest speech in the chamber’s history. His “magic minute” address, which is a custom that allows party leaders to speak for as long as they like, ran for eight hours and 45 minutes.

Jeffries pledged to take his “sweet time on behalf of the American people”, decrying the bill’s impact on poor Americans. Democrats, who had used procedural maneuvers to stall the House vote, were roundly critical of the final bill.

California’s Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker, said “today ushers in a dark and harrowing time”, and called the bill a “dangerous checklist of extreme Republican priorities”.

Of course, this type of criticism from the opposing party of a bill of this magnitude passed is normal in this day and age of polarized American politics. Whether the “Big, Beautiful Bill” will end up having a positive effect on the American people remains to be seen.