Trump's Tax and Spending Bill Passes Through US House

The House of Representatives passed Donald Trump's massive tax and spending bill last night, handing the US president the first major legislative victory of his second term and one expected to supercharge immigration enforcement and slash federal safety-net programmes.

- Chris Stein

The 218-214 vote came after weeks of wrangling over a measure that Trump had wanted ready for his signature by today, the Independence Day holiday.

Written by his Republican allies in Congress and unanimously rejected by Democrats, the bill triggered all-night votes in the House and Senate and negotiations that lasted until the final hours before it passed.

Ultimately, Republicans who had objected to its cost and contents folded and the bill passed with just two party defections: Thomas Massie, a right-winger from Kentucky, and Brian Fitzpatrick, who represents a Pennsylvania district that voted for Kamala Harris in last year's election.

"We've waited long enough, some of us have literally been up for days now, but this day – this day – is a hugely important one in the history of our nation," said the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, just before voting began.

"With one big, beautiful bill, we are going to make this country stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before, and every American is going to benefit from that."

The legislation is expected to speed up and expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations and will probably make Trump's longstanding desire for a wall along the border with Mexico a reality.