Republicans Secretly Worry About Trump’s Budget Victory
Republicans are starting to regret their triumph in passing the latest budget reconciliation bill, realizing that their aggressive policy moves may backfire during the upcoming midterms.
The GOP’s Controversial Budget Cuts
On Tuesday, the House GOP passed a budget resolution that slashes major social programs, including Medicaid, which provides health coverage to over 72 million Americans. The budget implements an $880 billion cut as part of a deal to extend Donald Trump’s 2017 tax plan. While the tax plan primarily benefits corporations, it is projected to add up to $15 trillion to the national deficit.
Republican Fears of Political Backlash
Now that the resolution has passed, Republican lawmakers are concerned that the fiscal package could cost them reelection. One moderate Republican told Axios, “It could be trouble.… We saw what happened in 2018,” referring to the midterms during Trump’s first term, when backlash against GOP policies led to a 40-seat loss in the House.
Attempts to Distance from the Budget Framework
Despite the budget passing in a narrow 217–215 vote—without Democratic support and only one Republican defection (Representative Thomas Massie)—many conservatives are already distancing themselves from it.
“Last night’s vote was just a procedural step to start federal budget negotiations and does NOT change any current laws,” claimed Republican Representative Rob Bresnahan in a statement on Wednesday.
Other Republicans have attempted to mislead the public about the resolution’s impact. Some have denied that the House Energy and Commerce Committee is tasked with finding at least $880 billion in savings from programs under its jurisdiction, leaving Medicaid particularly vulnerable to cuts.
Denials and Misdirection
Montana Representative Ryan Zinke downplayed concerns, insisting in an interview with CNN that there was “zero mention of cutting Medicaid.” While technically true, this claim misrepresents the resolution’s financial implications. After further questioning, Zinke admitted that the GOP aims to cut at least a billion dollars from Medicaid over ten years.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has since attempted damage control, reportedly “ruling out” the most extreme Medicaid cuts. However, he has not provided details on how Republicans will meet their budget goals without impacting millions of Americans.
Voter Backlash at Town Halls
As details of the budget resolution emerge, Republican lawmakers have faced intense backlash from their constituents. Voters attending town halls across the country are expressing outrage, feeling betrayed by representatives who appear to be prioritizing Trump’s political agenda over their well-being.
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