“HORRIBLE DAY”
Trump’s billionaire former ally Elon Musk was among the most vocal critics, and he has pledged to set up a new political party to oppose Republicans who backed the Bill.
Democrats and many US voters have meanwhile expressed concerns that the “big beautiful Bill” will gut health and welfare support.
The Bill will force through the largest cuts to the Medicaid health insurance programme for low-income Americans since its 1960s launch, while also shrinking federal food assistance programmes.
Up to 17 million people could lose their insurance coverage under the Bill, according to some estimates. Scores of rural hospitals are expected to close as a result.
But Trump played down the concerns.
“They’ve developed a standard line, and we can’t let them get away with it. ‘Oh, it’s dangerous. Oh, everybody’s going to die.’ It’s actually just the opposite,” said Trump.
Democrats hope public opposition to the Bill will help them flip the US House in the 2026 mid-term election, pointing to data showing that it represents a huge redistribution of wealth from the poorest Americans to the richest.
People attending the Fourth of July parade in Washington on Saturday had mixed feelings.
“Yesterday was a horrible day, today is the best part of America,” said Elisabeth Hubir, 70.
