Trump's extensive, controversial legislative package, which he himself has called "big, beautiful bill", has after many twists been voted through in the House of Representatives. It will have major consequences for the US: Large tax cuts are maintained, costs for defense and to stop immigration increase, while savings affect the state health insurance Medicare and food subsidies for the poor.
Pushing through such a disparate budget package is a major victory for Trump, according to Jan Hallenberg, professor emeritus of political science at the Defense University in Stockholm.
One almost has to go back to President Lyndon Johnson to see a president who is as strong, and who manages to twist the arm of the members of Congress who actually do not want to vote for the bill, he says.
Risk for The Republicans
But the reforms can be expensive for The Republicans. For hours, the Democrats' group leader Hakeem Jeffries tried, before the final vote, to explain the consequences of the budget for ordinary Americans. Now that the proposal has been passed, the question is who can explain the consequences best to the voters.
If The Republicans do not manage to explain the reduction of health insurance, they risk losing the congressional election next year. Some analysts say that it is already clear that they will lose the election, but I think it's a bit too early to say, says Hallenberg.
He reminds that Trump went to the election on not touching health insurance, which was the reason why some voters voted for him.
There will be millions of people who will not have any health insurance in the future. But at the same time, this proposal is well thought out – the cuts for Medicaid will not occur until the turn of the year 2026-2027. Then the congressional election will already have been held.
National debt increases
In the long run, Trump's policy can bring problems for the American economy, Hallenberg assesses.
The American politicians are conducting an irresponsible economic policy. This will have the consequence that the US's already vast national debt increases further.
The national debt is already roughly 100 percent of GDP, he says.
And it may go up to 120-130 percent of GDP when all this is implemented – and then the US state will have to borrow money on the international market. They will manage to do that, but it can become more expensive.
