In passing a defence bill Donald Trump vetoed, Congress delivers its first rebuke of his presidency

The US Congress has delivered a strong rebuke to US President Donald Trump in the final days of his presidency, defying him on a critical defence bill.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has been passed by Congress for 59 straight years and is considered sacrosanct by many in Congress, as it defines Pentagon policy, funds Defense spending and gives pay raises to the troops.

But Mr Trump vetoed the NDAA last week, sending it back to Congress and warning members not to override his veto despite the annual bill passing both the House and Senate just days earlier with overwhelming bipartisan support.

The President opposes the bill because it would strip military bases of the names of Confederate generals, and because it failed to…