US President Donald Trump has secured a key legislative victory after Congress passed his sweeping tax and spending bill, a major step forward for his domestic policy agenda. The bill was narrowly approved in the House of Representatives on Thursday afternoon, passing with a tight 218-214 vote just days after it cleared the Senate by a slim margin.

Pushing hard for the bill to reach his desk before Independence Day, Trump is now expected to sign it into law during a ceremony scheduled for July 4 at 5:00 pm EDT.

The legislation fulfills two of his central campaign promises—locking in the tax cuts passed in 2017 and removing taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits.

Despite strong support from Republicans, the bill drew sharp criticism from Democrats and even created friction within Trump’s own party.

The Congressional Budget Office has projected that the law could increase the federal deficit by $3.3 trillion over the next ten years and result in millions of Americans losing health coverage, a projection dismissed by the White House.

Trump, however, praised the bill’s potential impact on the economy, declaring it would launch the country forward like a “rocket ship.”

The House vote followed a tense stretch for Republican leadership, who faced divisions in their ranks.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson celebrated the outcome, thanking party members for holding firm despite disagreements. He admitted the process wasn’t easy, pointing out that some lawmakers were hesitant to support the legislation.

Among the skeptics was Texas Representative Chip Roy, who had earlier slammed the Senate’s version as a “travesty.” However, Roy later switched his position, saying his concerns had been addressed in the final version. Only two Republicans—Thomas Massie and Brian Fitzpatrick—ended up voting against the measure.

After the vote, Republican members broke into loud cheers and chants of “USA! USA!” on the House floor, signaling their relief and excitement after a hard-fought process.

The path to final passage was anything but smooth. The vote had been delayed after Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered a record-setting speech that lasted eight hours and 45 minutes.

Speaking under the “magic minute” rule, Jeffries denounced the bill’s cuts to food and health programs while accusing Republicans of protecting tax breaks for the wealthy at the expense of vulnerable Americans.

Jeffries was not alone in his criticism. North Carolina lawmaker Deborah Ross said Republicans had “sold out the country’s future,” while Arizona’s Yassamin Ansari called the day “really sad.” Texas Representative Marc Veasey went further, accusing the Republican party of being consumed by “cowards, chaos, and corruption.”

Still, Republicans managed to regain control early Thursday morning. Trump took to Truth Social with a fiery post, urging lawmakers to act fast and warning that delays were frustrating his MAGA supporters. His message seemed to resonate. GOP leaders overcame a critical procedural hurdle at 3:00 a.m. EDT and finally pushed the bill through just before 2:30 p.m. EDT.

In addition to tax changes, the legislation includes $150 billion for border enforcement and another $150 billion in military spending. This includes Trump’s “gold dome” missile defense project, a key part of his national security plan. Altogether, the cost of the bill is estimated at $4.5 trillion over the next decade.

While the bill’s approval marks a political win for Trump and his allies, it sets the stage for fierce debate moving forward as critics continue to question its long-term impact on the country’s economy and social safety net.