US President Donald Trump to hold party after massive victory with tax bill

DONALD Trump is set to celebrate his first major legislative win as president with a shindig at the White House to celebrate the passing of his controversial new tax bill.

US President Donald Trump overnight hailed the imminent adoption of a sweeping Republican tax cut plan as a “historic victory” for the American people.

The US leader saw his first major legislative win, as politicians gave final approval, after an earlier procedural snag, to the most sweeping tax cuts in a generation.

“We had a historic victory for the American people,” Mr Trump told reporters in a celebratory address from the White House Cabinet Room.

Donald Trump, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis prayed during a cabinet meeting overnight. Picture: AFP/Saul Loeb

“We got it done,” he added, thanking the Republican leaders in Congress, Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan, by name. “We have a tremendous amount of talent.”

After concluding his remarks, Mr Trump invited his Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson to say a prayer for the assembled reporters and cabinet members — during which Carson notably cited concerns about the national debt.

The Tax Cuts are so large and so meaningful, and yet the Fake News is working overtime to follow the lead of their friends, the defeated Dems, and only demean. This is truly a case where the results will speak for themselves, starting very soon. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2017

I would like to congratulate @SenateMajLdr on having done a fantastic job both strategically & politically on the passing in the Senate of the MASSIVE TAX CUT & Reform Bill. I could have not asked for a better or more talented partner. Our team will go onto many more VICTORIES!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2017

It comes as the White House Mr Trump will hold an event with politicians after the expected passage of a sweeping rewrite of the nation’s tax laws.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Mr Trump will take part in a “bill passage event” at the White House with members of the House and Senate at 3pm (7am AEDT) Ms Sanders said it would not be a signing event.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president will hold a “bill passage event”. Picture: AFP/Saul Loeb

Eyeing the most important legislative victory in the 11 months since his inauguration — after the stinging failure to repeal his predecessor’s health care law — Mr Trump has demanded the bill reach his desk by Christmas.

The Senate passed the Republican bill in the wee hours and the House — which already approved it on Tuesday — was scheduled for a technical revote on the $2 trillion due to a procedural snag.

US House Speaker Paul Ryan said the tax bill will “give relief to hardworking families”. Picture: AP/Susan Walsh

The deepest rewrite of the US tax code in three decades provides dramatic tax breaks to corporations, and families at all income levels will see their tax drop — in what Republicans hope will play to their advantage in next year’s midterm elections.

The tax plan also takes a key step towards dismantling Barack Obama’s health reforms, by scrapping the individual mandate that requires nearly all Americans to have health insurance or pay a fine.

“We have essentially repealed Obamacare and we will come up with something much better,” Mr Trump declared.

Senate Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell said Americans would respond positively to the controversial bill. Picture: AFP/Brendan Smialowski

Earlier Mr Trump had tweeted out his praise for Senate Majority leader McConnell, congratulating him on a “fantastic job both strategically & politically on the passing in the Senate of the MASSIVE TAX CUT & Reform Bill.”

“I could have not asked for a better or more talented partner. Our team will go onto many more VICTORIES!”

Originally published as US President Donald Trump to hold party after massive victory with tax bill