Trump celebrates first real legislative victory

Congress passes Republican tax cut plan

Donald Trump celebrated a “historic” victory Wednesday as the US Congress passed a massive Republican tax cut plan, handing the president his first major legislative achievement since taking office nearly a year ago.

The House of Representatives voted along party lines to greenlight a $1.5 trillion overhaul that will impact every corner of the US economy through dramatic tax cuts for corporations and temporary reductions for individuals.

Opposition Democrats branded the tax plan a giveaway to the wealthiest that risks blowing a hole in the national debt, but the revamp reflects a core Trump campaign pledge to redirect money from government coffers into the pockets of working Americans.

“We broke every record,” a jubilant Trump told scores of elated Republicans gathered at the White House for a victory celebration, thanking them for driving through “the largest tax cut in the history of our country.”

“We are making America great again,” he declared, in a melee of smiles and handshakes with lawmakers – who took turns to sing the president’s praises.

“Something this big, something this generational, something this profound could not have been done without exquisite presidential leadership,” gushed House Speaker Paul Ryan as fellow lawmakers applauded.

The most sweeping rewrite of the US tax code in decades, the bill represents Trump’s most important legislative victory in the 11 months since his inauguration, until now marked by the stinging failure to repeal his predecessor’s healthcare law.

Billing it as a “Christmas gift” and a “history victory” for the American people, Trump and his Republicans hope their success in passing tax cuts plays to the party’s advantage in next year’s midterm elections.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also takes a major step toward crippling Obamacare by scrapping the individual mandate that requires nearly all Americans to have health insurance or pay a fine.

“With this bill... we have essentially repealed Obamacare and we will come up with something that’s much better,” Trump declared.

Trump earlier gathered his cabinet members for a meeting where he discussed the tax accomplishment, and that gave way to an extraordinary scene as the president invited those present to join in prayer.

Housing Secretary Ben Carson, a fervent member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, proceeded to say grace, thanking God for giving America Trump and his tax cut plan.