Game on: Republicans, Democrats trade fire over Big Beautiful Bill in 2026 battle for Congress

President Donald Trump celebrated a major victory as his ambitious domestic policy bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” passed through Congress despite facing strong opposition from Democrats. The president wasted no time in criticizing the Democrats for unanimously voting against the bill, vowing to use their opposition as a key campaign issue in the upcoming midterm elections.

Speaking at an event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Trump emphasized the importance of defeating the Democrats in the next election. The bill, which includes a wide range of Trump’s campaign promises and second-term priorities, such as tax cuts, immigration reform, and defense spending, was narrowly passed by the GOP-controlled House of Representatives in a 218-214 vote.

The Senate also approved the bill by a slim margin of 51-50, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. The legislation is set to be signed into law by the president at a White House ceremony, marking a significant legislative achievement for the Trump administration.

Despite the successful passage of the bill, public opinion polls suggest that the measure is not very popular among Americans. The bill includes provisions to make Trump’s first-term tax cuts permanent, leading to nearly $4.4 trillion in tax cuts over the next decade. It also includes significant changes to Medicaid and food stamp programs, drawing criticism from Democrats for cutting benefits for low-income Americans.

House Republicans, who will be defending their majority in the upcoming midterm elections, have vowed to make the Democrats’ opposition to the bill a central issue in their campaign. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) released a memo highlighting the Democrats’ refusal to support the bill, framing it as a betrayal of working families.

On the other hand, Democrats have condemned the bill for its cuts to social safety net programs and tax breaks for the wealthy. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Republicans of prioritizing tax cuts for billionaires over the well-being of vulnerable Americans, promising to hold them accountable in the elections.

As both parties gear up for a fierce campaign battle over the controversial bill, Republicans are highlighting the tax cut provisions as a key selling point to voters. A poll conducted by the GOP-aligned group One Nation showed strong support for the bill’s tax cuts, despite overall negative sentiment in other national surveys.

While Trump touted the bill as “very popular” due to its tax cut provisions, recent polls indicate that a majority of voters oppose the measure. A Fox News poll conducted last month showed that 59% of respondents were against the bill, with only 38% in favor.

With a wide partisan divide over the bill, both Republicans and Democrats are gearing up for a heated campaign season leading up to the midterm elections. The battle over the “One Big Beautiful Bill” is set to be a defining issue in the upcoming political landscape, as both parties seek to sway voters with their contrasting narratives on the controversial legislation.