A new survey shows that many Americans think former President Donald Trump’s major new spending bill mostly helps the rich while making things harder for the middle class and poor.
This bill is known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” and it’s over 1,000 pages long. It includes about \$4.9 trillion in tax breaks, budget cuts, and tougher rules for people who use Medicaid (the government health program for low-income people).
The bill passed the House of Representatives by a very narrow vote: 215 in favor, 214 against. Two Republicans Thomas Massie from Kentucky and Warren Davidson from Ohio voted against the bill, along with every Democrat in the House.
The Congressional Budget Office, an independent government agency, says the bill will increase the national debt by \$2.4 trillion, even though it reduces taxes by \$3.75 trillion.
Now the Senate is debating the bill. At the same time, Elon Musk has spoken out against it, starting a public argument with Trump.
According to a CBS News/YouGov poll, nearly half (47%) of Americans think the bill will hurt the middle class. Over half (54%) believe it will be bad for poor Americans. Meanwhile, 60% think the bill will help the rich, and only 7% believe it will harm them.
This poll asked 2,428 adults between June 4 and 6, with a margin of error of about 2.4 percentage points.
Political experts are weighing in. Mark Shanahan, who teaches politics in the U.K., said the bill continues Trump’s earlier approach: cutting taxes and reducing rules for the wealthy, hoping it will eventually benefit everyone else.
He pointed out that this idea didn’t really work when Trump was president the first time, and there’s little evidence it will work now. Shanahan said Trump supporters want more money in their pockets, and although they don’t like Musk, Musk could be the one who exposes how this bill mostly helps the rich.
He also mentioned that many senators will face re-election in 2026. Some Republicans, like Thom Tillis from North Carolina and Susan Collins from Maine, might be pressured by various groups who don’t like the bill. If enough senators question the bill, it could damage Trump’s plan to leave a lasting legacy in his second term.
Senator Ted Cruz from Texas supports the bill and says it’s messy but necessary. He believes it’s the best way for Republicans to deliver what voters asked for.
On the other hand, Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts strongly disagrees. She said the bill would take away health care from millions while giving massive tax cuts to billionaires. She also quoted Elon Musk, who called it a “disgusting abomination.”
Trump, using his social media platform Truth Social, pushed senators to move quickly and send the bill to his desk.
Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries called the bill irresponsible and promised to use it as a major talking point in future elections.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, celebrated the bill’s passage in the House. He said it will cut spending, lower taxes for families and businesses, secure the border, boost American energy, and make the government more effective.
Now the bill heads to the Senate, where it could be changed before the goal of passing it by July 4. With Republicans holding a narrow majority (53–47), even a few Republicans opposing it could block it from becoming law.
