Scoop: Congressional Republicans go on offense on Trump's "big, beautiful bill"

House Republicans' campaign arm is going on the offensive in the battle for public opinion over President Trump's "big, beautiful bill." Why it matters: Democrats have hammered Republicans over the legislation's deep cuts to Medicaid, but the National Republican Congressional Committee thinks they have the winning message to expand their numbers in the 2026 midterms.Republicans plan to message their legislative victory by branding Democrats' opposition as voting to raise taxes on small businesses and American families, according to an internal memo first shared with Axios."Every Democrat voted to hurt working families and to protect the status quo. ... House Republicans will be relentless in making this vote the defining issue of 2026," the memo says. Yes, but: Republicans have their work cut out for them. Recent polls have shown that only 23%–38% of American adults and voters support the legislation.Zoom in: The House-passed bill makes permanent Trump's 2017 tax cuts and adds additional tax benefits — no tax on tips or overtime and a temporary tax deduction for those 65 and older.The NRCC is highlighting a $1,700 tax cut for families of four in their messaging efforts. Trump is set to speak Thursday evening at the Iowa State Fairgrounds — an event that's part July 4 celebration and part "big, beautiful bill" victory lap.State of play: The House narrowly passed the bill 218-214, and GOP members with an array of concerns have spent days publicly dunking on the measure. Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) called the bill "morally and fiscally bankrupt" in a post on X.Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) said the bill makes "harmful cuts to Medicaid" and puts "critical funding at risk." Both ultimately voted in favor of the bill with no changes. The other side: Democrats are already vowing to make the bill a centerpiece of their midterm strategy, too."From now until November 2026, the DCCC will continue to communicate the harm this bill will cause," a memo from the House Democrats' campaign arm says. "Republicans will lose the majority in 2026 and the Big, Ugly Bill will be the reason why."Zoom in: The NRCC is confident that work requirements in Medicaid and increased border security funding resonate with voters, and they plan to spotlight those provisions. The memo cites an internal GOP poll that found 72% of voters support work requirements, and 86% support removing deceased or ineligible recipients from Medicaid. The bottom line: Republicans still have a highly skeptical public to convince.Republicans are aware polling as a whole isn't pretty, Axios' Stef Kight reports, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) predicted last week that those numbers would improve after the final bill is passed.Editor's note: This story is corrected to state that the bill will give a temporary tax deduction for those 65 and older (not eliminate a tax on Social Security).

Comments

World news

Texas weather forecast: More rain and thunderstorms predicted after flash floods kill at least 82 people

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Scoop: Roy Cooper leans toward N.C. Senate bid, potential Trump showdown

Scoop: Trump customs revenue tops $100 billion, boosted by tariffs

Scoop: Byron Donalds announces $22 million haul in Florida governor race

World news

Texas weather forecast: More rain and thunderstorms predicted after flash floods kill at least 82 people

Israel and Hamas are inching toward a new ceasefire deal for Gaza. This is how it might look

Explosion tears roof off Domino’s Pizza after car crashes into restaurant

Russia fires over 100 drones at Ukraine as Kremlin dismisses transport chief after travel chaos

Trump threatens extra 10% tariff on countries with ‘anti-American policies’

Trial to begin for man charged with decapitating father and posting gory video

Moment entire cabin full of people swept downriver in Texas flooding

Greece orders workers to down tools as another heatwave takes hold

Australian state to set up anti-hate task force after Melbourne synagogue arson

Man found dead inside 28ft python after being crushed and eaten

I was a benefits assessor – I had to deduct points if people had ‘full use of their arms’

My friend is pregnant and it’s set an emotional bomb off inside of me

Four unanswered questions after woman guilty of mushroom killings

Wimbledon umpire at centre of ‘stolen’ point storm left off match list

I left the UK for Poland – I’m mortgage-free and my quality of life is far better

How much money a wealth tax could raise – and would the super-rich leave?

Who was Nadine Aburas, and how long was Sammy Almahri jailed for her murder?

The old suburban frontier is closing. Here’s what the new one could look like.

The spiritual life calls out to me. But is it self-indulgent?

The repressive tool behind Trump&#8217;s latest immigration crackdown

The Lessons of Osirak for Israel and Iran

Welcome to the July issue of The Highlight

Tesla shares plunge again as politics, China weigh on Musk

Trump bill's health effects won't be felt until after midterms

That Social Security email about the "big, beautiful bill," explained

Poland reinstates border controls with Germany and Lithuania to discourage asylum-seekers

Hundreds greet Nepal's ex-king on his birthday as support for the ousted monarch grows

Philippine police take 15 officers into custody over the feared killings of cockfighters

How the mushroom murder trial gripped Australia – and the world

Trump live updates: President says Elon Musk ‘off the rails’ as tech boss hits back over Jeffrey Epstein

Body found in search for woman who got off cruise ship and never came back

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Four dead and dozens injured in new wave of Russian strikes

Texas floods: Desperate search for missing girls as death toll climbs to 82

Trump’s greed and spite is having a devastating effect on journalism

No one wants to listen to your rambling voice note

Amid Economic Woes, China’s Public Still Supports the CCP

The next phase of Trump's tariff limbo is just starting

The downside of a digital yes-man

Potential 2028 GOP contenders already making moves

"There needs to be blood": Democrats' voters tell them to "get shot" in Trump resistance push

Days of monsoon rains and flash floods kill at least 72 in Pakistan

7 more Turkish soldiers die from methane gas in Iraqi cave, raising deaths to 12

Pamplona holds opening bull run during San Fermín festival

High-profile trial for deadly hotel fire that killed 78 opens in Turkey

A road collision kills at least 21 people in northwestern Nigeria

Police block roads and businesses close ahead of planned protests in Kenya

Greece imposes work breaks as a heat wave grips the country

Executions in Saudi Arabia reach a record high mostly over drug cases, Amnesty says

British teenager jailed in Dubai for sex with girl is released after royal pardon

An unclear motive and a media frenzy: The mushroom murder trial, explained

Woman ‘loses arm’ in lion attack at Australian zoo

Erin Patterson trial latest: First photos of deadly beef wellington mushroom lunch released

Pope speaks about childhood and early mornings as an altar boy

How a family’s beef wellington lunch ended with three dead and a mother guilty of murder

British woman and New Zealander killed in elephant attack on Zambia safari

Erin Patterson found guilty of murdering her three in-laws with death cap mushrooms

Now we’ll find out what Lando Norris is really made of

The BBC expected an easy ride under Labour – how wrong it was

I’ve sat through 130 matches at Wimbledon and they’ve ruined the fan experience

A lion attacks a woman in an Australian zoo, severely injuring her arm

The repressive tool behind Trump’s latest immigration crackdown