No Matter What It’s Called, The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is Underwater

Nationally, Americans view the One Big Beautiful Bill Act unfavorably by 15 points (33% favorable – 48% unfavorable), including independents by 37 points (14% favorable – 51% unfavorable). Similarly, in battleground districts, a majority view the Republican budget unfavorably (42% favorable – 53% unfavorable).

Both nationally and in the battleground, Navigator tested different variations of the law’s naming conventions (On the national level: “The Republican budget bill, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, in the battleground: “The Republican tax law” and “The Republican budget bill, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act”). Across those tests, we found the law was still unpopular no matter what it was called.

Impacts of the Republican Budget, Including Rising Costs and Cuts to Medicaid, Are Even More Unpopular 

While the law is underwater, what is even more unpopular are the impacts of the law. 60% of Americans nationwide believe the Republican budget has made their costs go up, including a plurality of Republicans (35% costs go up – 27% no impact – 25% costs go down). Similarly, around half of Americans nationwide believe the Republican budget has been bad for the economy (19% good – 48% bad).

By a 40-point margin, Americans in the battleground oppose cuts to Medicaid funding (26% favor – 66% oppose). More than three-quarters of battleground constituents are concerned by the impacts of Medicaid cuts in the Republican budget, including at least 60% who are very concerned. 

On a national level, Americans have the most intense concerns about cuts to healthcare and SNAP. More than three-in-five believe Trump and Republicans are responsible for these cuts.

At least 60% of Americans in the battleground are concerned by cuts Trump and Republicans in Congress made in the Republican budget, including:

• 65% concerned by tax cuts for utility companies,
• 64% concerned by healthcare cuts, and
• 60% concerned by SNAP cuts.

When asked which was most concerning, the most popular answer was, “Passing huge cuts to Medicaid to fund tax breaks for billionaires, kicking millions off their insurance and threatening to close rural hospitals.” This is a clear signal that a focus on the tangible impacts of the Republican budget, especially how it is impacting communities across the country, is the most effective way to further drive opposition. 

Majorities Believe the Republican Budget is Raising Their Costs While Benefiting Big Corporations and the Wealthy

When it comes to the current state of the economy, an overwhelming majority nationwide believe specific policy decisions by the president, including the Republican budget, have more of an impact on the economy than broader economic patterns outside of any one politician’s control (71% policy decisions – 29% broader economic patterns). This sentiment is felt across parties, with 79% of Democrats, 74% of independents, and 61% of Republicans believing specific policy decisions have a greater impact on the economy.

As Americans nationally see the Republican budget as a culprit of higher costs and worse economic outcomes, most agree there are some winners from the budget, namely big corporations and billionaires. 57% say the rich and big corporations have benefited more from the budget that Trump and Republicans in Congress passed than the middle and working class (25%). The same majority believe billionaires have benefitted more from the budget than the middle and working class (57% billionaires benefitted more – 25% middle class benefitted more).

Medicaid and SNAP are Viewed Overwhelmingly Favorably

On a national level, overwhelming majorities across political ideologies view Medicaid favorably. Over three-in-four hold favorable views of Medicaid (78%), including 87% of Democrats, 70% of independents, and 70% of Republicans. The Democratic Party holds a trust advantage when it comes to handling Medicaid (45% trust Democratic Party – 27% trust Republican Party – 21% don’t trust either), though a plurality of independents say they don’t trust either party to handle Medicaid (33% trust Democratic Party – 10% trust Republican Party – 42% don’t trust either).

Similarly, nearly seven-in-10 Americans in the battleground view Medicaid favorably (69% favorable – 24% unfavorable). Medicaid has 93% name ID among Americans in the battleground, while the specific state name for Medicaid only has name ID among 68% and is viewed less favorably (45% favorable – 22% unfavorable). Given the public’s familiarity with and support for Medicaid, it remains important to to consistently highlight how the Republican budget guts Medicaid and will force the closure of rural hospitals.

Three-in-four Americans nationally hold favorable views of SNAP (75%), including 88% of Democrats, 68% of independents, and 64% of Republicans. Likewise, a majority of Americans in the battleground also view SNAP favorably (58% favorable – 30% unfavorable).