WASHINGTON — President Trump is at the height of his political power following Thursday’s passage of his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – capping a remarkable two-week streak of domestic and foreign policy feats that even Democrats are calling impressive.
Trump, 79, will sign the bill fulfilling his major campaign pledges – including to cut taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits – at a pre-fireworks Independence Day party on the White House lawn.
B-2 stealth bombers will fly over the celebration in recognition of their role in the Trump-ordered June 21 US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear program, which was followed two days later by an equally unprecedented Trump-brokered cease-fire between Israel and Iran.
The commander in chief, riding high on that diplomatic coup, strong-armed NATO nations at the alliance’s annual conference to boost military spending to 5% of their GDP by 2035, after complaining for years that US allies were freeloading off American taxpayers.
He returned home to good news from the Supreme Court, which handed him wins on deporting illegal immigrants to third countries and restricting nationwide injunctions by district court judges — while CBS’s parent company agreed to fork over $16 million for deceptively editing an interview last year with Trump’s election rival, then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
Over the weekend, Canada scrapped a digital services tax against US internet giants under pressure from Trump, followed days later by the University of Pennsylvania stripping honors from transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and the announcement of a pending trade deal with Vietnam – as major stock market indices notched record highs and illegal border crossings hit new record lows.
The Big Beautiful Bill Act also includes $25 billion in funding for Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense program, spends more on immigration enforcement, allows tax deductions for domestic car loan interest and — in a major win for New York and New Jersey Republicans — lifts the cap on the amount of state and local taxes that can be deducted from federal returns to $40,000 from the prior $10,000.
“I didn’t vote for him and I’m not always aligned with his approach, but his success on the domestic and international front in such a compressed period of time is nothing short of remarkable and it’s all due to his impressive use of political and executive power,” Michael LaRosa, a former Biden White House spokesman, told The Post.
“The last two weeks of his presidency are a throwback to the strong leadership styles reminiscent of LBJ or Reagan, both of whom engendered such personal and political loyalty within their parties, that they could muscle through historic success out of sheer goodwill.”
A different Biden White House official, who served all four years in the Democratic administration, said Trump has “hit a stride” and marveled at his ability to pressure holdout Republicans into voting for the major legislation despite centrist reluctance over Medicaid and SNAP cuts and conservative demands for deeper spending reductions.
“You voted for it because you’re scared of the guy. And frankly, that’s impressive, given that Biden never invoked fear in anyone,” the former Biden aide said of the GOP holdouts, all but two of whom eventually backed the bill.
“Successful campaigns and successful operations excel when they are provided clarity in mission from their leader — in this case President Trump,” said Chris LaCivita, who ran Trump’s 2024 campaign alongside current White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
“Elections matter because you now have one of the greatest realignments in political history happening and being backed up by policy. If you work, pay taxes and aspire for a better tomorrow, you are voting Republican,” LaCivita said, describing the working-class reforms encompassed in the bill, which also made permanent Trump’s 2017 tax cuts to all brackets.
“If you’re dour, rich and generally hold people that don’t agree with [you] in contempt – and you don’t know what a woman is – you’re a Democrat. This transformation in political power is because of the leadership and determination of one person — President Trump.”
Kellyanne Conway, senior counselor to Trump during his first term, declared “these have been the most consequential two weeks of Trump’s second term, as he makes peace deals, trade deals and tax deals, everywhere all at once.”
“And he’s just getting started. America is in its Golden Age,” Conway said.
“The snark and bark of his petty critics is muted and meaningless. If you can’t beat him, join him. Sit back and enjoy a nation that is sovereign, secure and prosperous. We are the envy of the world and Trump is just getting started.”
“President Trump is on a roll,” said Vivek Ramaswamy, the former Republican presidential candidate and current contender for Ohio governor. “By 2026, it will be up to the states to lead the way on other critical fronts, like solving the educational achievement crisis in our country.”
Trump’s trail of triumphs precedes a significant deadline next week for the sealing of bilateral trade deals to avert “reciprocal” levies on foreign countries — which could dramatically increase US consumer costs and drive up inflation, which has cooled this year.
Trump has given countries until July 9 to reach agreements to avert high rates, but thus far has only announced the outlines of deals with China, the UK and Vietnam, along with a “roadmap” with India.
Publicly, the president has brushed off concern about the rate of dealmaking and said he will decree new rates when next week instead of pushing the deadline.
Trump also has thus far failed to cajole Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell into lowering interest rates — causing the cost of homes, credit card balances and loans to remain high despite inflation nearing the Fed’s target of 2%.
Trump has said he will allow Powell to remain in his role until his term expires next May, and that he intends to appoint a replacement who will promptly drop rates by at least 2 percentage points.
But for now, Trump’s series of successes offer momentum – with polling showing he’s getting credit for a strong economy, typically a top concern of voters, ahead of next year’s midterm election, which will determine whether the later half of his term is plagued by probes by congressional Democrats.
“It’s becoming increasingly evident that Donald Trump is the dominant political figure so far of the 21st Century,” said American University professor Leonard Steinhorn, who teaches public communication and history courses.
But Steinhorn added that Trump’s administration contrasts with other powerful American presidents who – at least fleetingly – held broad-based national support.
“As dominant as Donald Trump is today, he’s especially dominant over the Republican Party … But let’s not forget that he presides over half a country that believes that he is taking us on a very bad path, and to many people on a path to authoritarian or autocratic rule.”
LaRosa, the former Biden White House aide, said he hopes that fellow Democrats will learn from Trump’s unexpected political abilities.
“Even though I may disagree with him substantively, his effective use of power as an executive and party leader, despite congressional margins or ideological diversity, is something to admire for those of us who are practitioners of politics,” LaRosa said.
“Instead of reflexively ridiculing his style and the fact that he uses the latitude he’s been afforded so skillfully, Democrats should learn from him and replicate it the next time we have the keys.”
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