The bill passage event staged by the White House on the South Lawn was a celebration akin to the last victory lap the administration took -- the Rose Garden ceremony to mark the passage of the ill-fated health-care bill through the House.

On Wednesday, as he did earlier this year, the president was beaming and complimented members of Congress standing all around him. The South Portico of the White House had lawmakers on the steps, as well as a group of particularly prominent Republicans standing immediately by the entrance and flanking the president.

Mr. Trump lavished praise on lawmakers. "What a job, what a job," he said. "It was a lot of fun. It's always fun when you win. If you work hard and lose, that's not acceptable... I want them to come up and get the glamor and the glory."

GOP lawmakers invited to the podium to speak included Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, and the Alaska delegation of Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young.

Mr. Trump also gave a special shoutout to House majority whip Steve Scalise, badly wounded in a shooting this year, telling him he had come through a rough year and joking that he had picked a dramatic way to lose weight. Mr. Scalise laughed loudly.

Mr. Hatch, who was acclaimed by the president for his longstanding support, returned the compliment especially vocally, telling Mr. Trump he was "living up to everything I hoped you would be. You're one heck of a leader... We're going to make this the greatest presidency ever."  Watch speech HERE