President Donald Trump signed the One Big, Beautiful Bill into law on Independence Day, meeting his self-imposed deadline for the monumental budget bill after a long legislative struggle.

Trump — who had urged Congress to pass the bill and send it to his desk by July 4 — walked out onto the South Portico of the White House with First Lady Melania Trump and stood for the national anthem and a military flyover, after which he approached the microphone to offer a few words.

“I want to wish you a very happy Independence Day, happy Fourth of July. This is gonna be something special. There’s spirit in this country, we haven’t seen anything like it in many, many years,” the president said, later mentioning Operation Midnight Hammer and the military personnel who participated in the operation to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Trump continued, noting his administration’s successes in recent months.

🚨 THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IS NOW OFFICIALLY THE LAW OF THE LAND! pic.twitter.com/mOpYN0tiZ0

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 4, 2025

“The American people gave us a historic mandate in November…We made promises, and it’s really promises made, promises kept. This is a triumph of democracy on the birthday of democracy,” Trump added, going on to enumerate the details of the Big, Beautiful Bill, and thanking prominent Republicans who helped get the legislation across the finish line.

“The Golden Age of America is upon us. We are in the Golden Age,” Trump said. “It’s going to be a period of time the likes of which I don’t think this country has ever experienced before.”

Trump then descended the stairs, shook hands with various figures, took his pen, and — flanked by House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise — signed the Big, Beautiful Bill.

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The bill makes permanent Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, increases funding for border security, enacts work requirements for able-bodied recipients of Medicaid and food stamps, defunds Planned Parenthood for a year, funds the “Golden Dome” missile defense program, and ends taxes on tips and overtime.

The legislation was sent to Trump’s desk after being passed by both houses of Congress, where Republicans overcame significant Democratic opposition and internal Republican hesitancy to hand the president a major legislative victory.

The Republican-controlled House voted 218-214 to pass the measure shortly after Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) wrapped up an hours-long speech delaying the bill’s advancement. To reach the final vote, Johnson spent hours working with Republican holdouts to get them to back the measure.

The Senate vote was even closer, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.

Following the bill’s passage on July 3, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said “President Trump delivered win after win for the American people, and House Republicans and Senate Republicans delivered these wins with the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill into law.”

Leif Le Mahieu contributed to this report.

Joey “Jaws” Chestnut took back his title at Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition on Friday, dominating the event after being booted from last year’s competition over a contract dispute with a fake meat company.

“Oh my gosh, I was nervous,” Chestnut told ESPN after reclaiming his crown. “[The] first couple of hot dogs, I was fumbling a little bit, but I found a pretty good rhythm. My goal was 70 to 77 – I really wanted a little bit more. There’s next year and I’m just happy I am here.”

JOEY CHESTNUT'S DOMINANCE CONTINUES 🐐

Chestnut downs 70.5 hot dogs to win his 17th Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest title 🏆 🌭 pic.twitter.com/B3TMBrayZ7

— ESPN (@espn) July 4, 2025

Chestnut stuffed himself with 70 ½ hot dogs in 10 minutes, marking the 41-year-old Indiana resident’s 17th “Mustard Belt” win in 20 tries – the most any competitor has won. Still, he fell short of his record of 76 hot dogs and buns from four years ago. He won his first Nathan’s competition in 2007, and an American has won the contest every year since.

He beat 14 other chowhounds from all over the world, including Brazil, Australia, and Europe. Friday’s second-place finisher, Patrick Bertoletti, ate 24 fewer frankfurters than Chestnut. Bertoletti won last year’s competition during Chestnut’s absence, downing 58 wieners and buns. The event has been held annually at Nathan’s Famous restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn, on July 4 since 1972.

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Although Chestnut did not compete in Nathan’s 2024 competition, he still holds 55 world records for various eating competitions. According to Major League Eating, the moderating body behind the hot dog eating contest, Chestnut also holds records for eating 121 Twinkies in six minutes, 390 shrimp wontons in eight minutes, and, of course, his hot dog record from 2021.

Major League Eating banned Chestnut from the Nathan’s Famous competition last year after he signed a deal with Impossible Foods, a Nathan’s competitor. In a statement last year on X, the group said, “We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.”

During his hiatus from Nathan’s Famous 2024 competition, Chestnut set the record for the most Buffalo Wild Wings eaten in one sitting, consuming 14.4 pounds of wings. He also consumed 83 all-beef hot dogs and buns at a Labor Day event in Las Vegas, according to CNN.

Chestnut took home $10,000 for his win on Friday, with the runner-up receiving $5,000, and $2500 for third place.

Sam Korkus contributed to this report.