Donald Trump's flagship "big, beautiful bill" has been passed by the US Congress - by 218 votes to 214.

The sprawling tax and spending bill passed on Thursday afternoon, after being approved by just a single vote in the Senate on Tuesday.

It's a significant victory for the US president - however, the Congressional Budget Office has predicted the bill could add $3.3trillion (£2.4trillion) to federal deficits in the next decade and leave millions without health coverage, the BBC reports.

The White House refutes that forecast.

Trump, who will now sign the bill into law later today, said it will "turn this country into a rocket ship".

The legislation includes cuts to food benefits and healthcare, and slashes tax breaks for clean energy projects.

About $150billion (£110billion) will be spent boosting border security, and investing in detention centres and immigration enforcement officers.

Another $150billion is allocated for military expenditures, including the president's "gold dome" missile defence programme.

FTSE 100

The UK's flagship share index, the FTSE 100, was down 12 points at 8,798 shortly after opening this morning.

Brent crude oil futures were down 0.57% at $68.27 a barrel.

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