President Donald Trump took a victory lap in Iowa Thursday night, boasting, “We’re the hottest in the world,” after his “Big, Beautiful Bill” passed in the House earlier in the day.
The bill passed its final hurdle after a long night of haggling with Republicans, last-minute holdouts, and a marathon speech from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Trump’s costly legislative package aims to increase funding for defense and border security at the expense of welfare programs and has divided the GOP, whose narrow 220-212 majority in the House permits only three defections.
The bill passed by 218 in favor to 214 against – with just two Republicans included in the latter total.
The president will sign the bill on Friday July 4 – Independence Day – at 5 p.m.
The House passed an earlier draft in May but was drastically revised in the Senate, which required a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance to force through on Tuesday.
Earlier Thursday, Jeffries set a new record for the longest ever “magic minute” speech on the House floor, after surpassing the previous record of eight hours and 32 minutes – set by former Speaker Kevin McCrthy in 2021.
In his mammoth speech, Jeffries lambasted the opposition for betraying “everyday Americans” by slashing Medicaid and miring the country in debt, calling the bill an “immoral document.”
Recap: What you need to know…
- President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” is back in the House of Representatives for further consideration after narrowly passing the Senate on Tuesday.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is making himself a final barrier to a last round of votes by speaking as long as he can on the House floor in a potentially record-breaking “magic minute” speech.
- The Senate vote required a tie-breaking intervention from Vice President JD Vance after three Republican senators opposed the legislation, resulting in a 50-50 split.
- Trump’s extensive tax and spending bill is designed to boost defense and border security funding at the expense of public safety net — and is forecast to add $3.3 trillion to the national debt while kicking off millions of people off Medicaid and food stamps.
- The president is expected to sign the bill into law on Friday to mark Independence Day.
- After a long night of haggling with the holdouts, the bill passed a key procedural House vote, paving the way for a floor vote on Thursday.
Mike Bedigan3 July 2025 16:32
Trump shows some love to Iowa
President Donald Trump said in a speech to Iowans, “You’ve been with me from the beginning.”
Rachel Dobkin4 July 2025 01:55
Trump suggests he will soften immigration crackdown on farms
President Donald Trump suggested he will soften his immigration crackdown on farms, saying, “We want the farms to be great.”
Rachel Dobkin4 July 2025 01:45
Trump says air traffic control will be modernized
President Donald Trump said, “We are gonna fully modernize our air traffic control” system.
Air travel saw record highs in June.
Rachel Dobkin4 July 2025 01:38
Trump boasts about border security funding
President Donald Trump boasted about the billions in funding that his bill allocates toward border security to help with his immigration crackdown.
He said there was“some horrible crime in Iowa caused by illegal aliens.”
Rachel Dobkin4 July 2025 01:35
Trump says there’s ‘no death tax’ anymore
President Donald Trump boasted about eliminating estate taxes, or what he calls “death” taxes.
“You have no more estate tax. You have no more death tax to pay,” he said, now that his tax and spending bill has passed.
Rachel Dobkin4 July 2025 01:33
Trump says bill’s tax cut is historical
President Donald Trump said his tax and spending bill provides the “largest tax cut in American history.”
Rachel Dobkin4 July 2025 01:28
Trump boasts about winning Iowa ‘three times’
President Donald Trump started his speech by boasting about winning Iowa “three times.”
“There could be no better birthday present for America” than the passage of Trump’s tax and spending bill, he said.
Rachel Dobkin4 July 2025 01:26
Trump walks on stage in Iowa
President Donald Trump walks on stage to the song “God Bless the U.S.A.” before delivering remarks in Iowa Thursday night.
He is seen dancing while wearing a red U.S.A. hat.
Rachel Dobkin4 July 2025 01:23
Mike Johnson calls Hakeem Jeffries 8-hour speech ‘performance art’
House Speaker Mike Johnson called House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ eight-hour and 32-minute speech “performance art” on Fox News Thursday night.
Jeffries broke a record for the longest ever “magic minute” speech on the House floor earlier Thursday, during which he criticized the opposition for betraying “everyday Americans” by slashing Medicaid in President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill.
In response, Johnson, who helped get Trump’s bill passed, said Jeffries “embarrassed his party,” calling his speech “performance art. And what Republicans are doing is delivering results.”
Rachel Dobkin4 July 2025 01:20
