The president’s sweeping domestic policy achievement extends his expiring 2017 tax cuts, but could cause millions in the U.S. to lose their health coverage and food aid over the next decade.

Against odds that at times seemed improbable, the president achieved his goal of celebrating a historic — and divisive — legislative victory in time for the nation's birthday, which also was his self-imposed deadline for Congress to send the legislation to his desk.

In a speech from the White House balcony facing the South Lawn, Trump thanked Republican lawmakers who helped usher the bill to his desk. He touted the tax cuts in the bill, brushing aside criticism of the impact to social programmes such as food assistance and Medicaid.