"Cruel": US Democrats condemn Trump's tax law

The opposition US Democrats have reacted sharply to President Donald Trump 's tax law. His predecessor , Joe Biden, called the bill "not only reckless, but cruel." According to congressional estimates, around 12 million US citizens are likely to lose their health insurance due to planned cuts to the US Medicaid healthcare system. Democrats estimate that more than 17 million will be affected. The government program, which is now facing major cuts, supports low-income earners and people with disabilities.

A demonstrator holds up a sign in front of the Congress building that reads: — "Billionaires, be ashamed of yourselves for dismantling the healthcare system": Protest in front of the Capitol in Washington on Thursday. Image: Celal Gunes/Anadolu/picture alliance

The legislative package extends tax relief from Trump's first term (2017 to 2021) totaling $4.5 trillion (approximately €3.8 trillion). Its core measures include low income tax rates, an expansion of the child tax credit, and an increase in the estate tax exemption, as well as substantial tax breaks for businesses. Tips and overtime pay will be tax-free in the future.

Additional billions are to be invested in defense and border protection. For example, around $25 billion is earmarked for the new US "Golden Dome" missile system. Cuts to health insurance for low-income citizens are far from sufficient to offset this: The United States is also taking on record-high new debt.

Dissenters slow down "Big Beautiful Bill"

It was at this point, in particular, that the resistance, which had also existed within Trump's Republican ranks, began. Initially, there were five dissenters; in the end, two Republican representatives in the House of Representatives voted against the bill together with the Democrats – too few to defeat it. After the Senate, the House finally passed the bill on second reading by a vote of 218 to 214.

This clears the way for the President to sign the document, symbolically intending to place his signature on the document this Friday, US Independence Day. "There is no better birthday present for America than the phenomenal victory we achieved just a few hours ago," Trump told supporters in the state of Iowa, before adding a string of superlatives.

Donald Trump stands on a red stage catwalk and speaks, wearing a cap — "Strongest economy, strongest military, strongest country": US President Donald Trump in front of supporters in the US state of Iowa. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP/picture alliance

The package, which he called the "Big Beautiful Bill," will "create the strongest economy and the strongest military in the world, ensuring that the United States of America remains the strongest country on our beautiful planet," the president declared at the start of the year-long celebration of the US's 250th anniversary. The actual anniversary will be celebrated on July 4, 2026.

Eight hours, 44 minutes, 25 seconds

House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries , on the other hand, called it a "big, ugly bill" that would strip millions of low-income and elderly citizens of their health care coverage. "The justification for all these cuts that will hurt ordinary Americans is to give massive tax breaks to billionaires," Jeffries said.

Hakeem Jeffries speaks standing up at his seat in the plenary of the US House of Representatives, other colleagues applaud standing up — "We are not here to bend the knee to a would-be king": Hakeem Jeffries during his marathon speech in the House . Image: Rod Lamkey/AP/picture alliance

To halt the vote, Jeffries delivered a marathon speech lasting eight hours, 44 minutes, and 25 seconds. In this all-out reckoning with Trump's policies, he criticized authoritarian tendencies during his second term. "We are not here to bend the knee to a would-be king," the House leader shouted to cheers from his colleagues.

Republican Majority Leader Mike Johnson, however, emphasized that the nearly 900-page bill was the cornerstone of Trump's "America First" policy. Critics within the party, however, saw it as a risky "mortgage on the future" – and were pressured by the president for doing so: "Remember, you have to get re-elected," Trump wrote on his own online service, Truth Social.

Mike Johnson, sitting at a table, accepts the congratulations of his colleagues shaking hands — "Cornerstone of the America First policy": Majority Leader Mike Johnson celebrates Trump's triumph with the Republicans. Image: Alex Wong/Getty Images

In the Senate , the bill only received a majority vote on Tuesday with the support of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance . Two Republican Trump critics announced they would not seek reelection. Midterm elections will take place next year, in which one-third of the Senate and the entire House of Representatives will be re-elected. How the tax package—one of the most unpopular pieces of legislation in recent decades—will affect the outcome remains to be seen.

Independent congressional experts have calculated that Trump's plans could increase the US debt mountain by an additional $3.4 trillion within ten years. The world's largest economy is currently saddled with more than $36 trillion in debt—that's a number with twelve zeros. In May, Moody's was the last of the three major American rating agencies to withdraw its top credit rating from the US in light of the country's fiscal situation. Financial markets also reacted to the planned tax law with concern and nervousness.

jj/wa (dpa, afp, rtr)