Johnson pushes back on polls on Trump's domestic agenda
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The leading Republican in Congress has countered accusations that Donald Trump’s new domestic agenda is unpopular by claiming that polls can be manipulated. During an interview on CNN, Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, was questioned about the popularity among voters of Trump’s sweeping legislative measure, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is projected to exceed $3 trillion in cost over the next ten years. While discussing this, the host inquired about the bill’s reception with the public.

Besides provisions that cut taxes on tips and increase defense spending, CNN claimed the entire bill was ‘underwater’ with voters who disapproved of its immigration funding and its cuts to social services, such as Medicaid and SNAP. ‘I'm not buying that,’ Johnson immediately responded. ‘Polls can be, you know, manipulated.’ He continued, this time citing polls that show approval for Trump’s bill. ‘We have seen a string of polls over and over and over that many of those, every one of those provisions, in fact, that you said are popular.’

In addition to tax cuts on tips and increased defense expenditure, CNN highlighted voter disapproval related to the bill’s immigration funding and its reductions to programs like Medicaid and SNAP as areas of concern. Johnson responded by dismissing these claims, saying, ‘Polls can be, you know, manipulated.’ He also cited surveys supporting the bill’s approval. According to Johnson, ‘We’ve continually seen polls demonstrating that many of those provisions, every single one, are indeed popular.’
‘The 53-year-old Louisiana Republican said that Republicans have been receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback on the bill while out speaking with constituents at town halls and community events. I've been in town halls around the country over this break, 12 states in the last week, and people are standing and applauding,’ for the bill, Johnson continued. ‘The facts are going to speak for themselves, the results and the things that people experience, and that's why we're excited about the midterms coming up.’ However, according to a Pew survey published in mid-August, the bill is seen unfavorably by many Americans.

The 53-year-old representative from Louisiana insisted that Republicans have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from constituents during town halls and community gatherings. Johnson shared, ‘I’ve visited town halls across 12 states last week, and people are standing and cheering for the bill.’ He added, ‘The results and people’s experiences will speak for themselves, which fuels our eagerness for the upcoming midterms.’ Nonetheless, a Pew survey released in mid-August indicated that many Americans view the bill negatively.

Forty-six percent of respondents disapproved of the sweeping budget and tax package, while 32 percent were in favor of it, and 23 percent were unsure, the survey found. Evidence of the discontent has been plain at some GOP town hall events. Shortly after breaking for the August recess and returning to their districts weeks after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed, Republicans began to catch heat for their vote.

The survey revealed that 46 percent of respondents were against the extensive budget and tax plan, while 32 percent supported it, and 23 percent were undecided. The dissatisfaction has been evident at various Republican town hall events. As they returned to their districts following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Republicans faced backlash for their vote.

Nebraska Republican Rep. Mike Flood was one of the first to be hit with the fallout as a group of nearly 700 appeared at one of his town halls in early August to pelt him with heckles. ‘Vote him out!’ screamed one, according to local reports. Many expressed concern over the cuts to Medicaid. Days later, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., was viciously booed as he addressed a town hall of his constituents. It was his first major in-person town hall in nearly a decade, according to Cal Matters.

Nebraska Republican Rep. Mike Flood was among the first to confront this backlash when nearly 700 attendees at an early August town hall event criticized him. One participant was reported to have shouted, ‘Vote him out!’ Among the concerns raised were reductions to Medicaid. Shortly afterward, Rep. Doug LaMalfa from California faced severe jeering during his first significant in-person town hall in close to a decade, based on reports from Cal Matters.
Angry constituents in the legislator's district made their displeasure with LaMalfa and Trump's policies quickly known at a Monday town hall, hurling disruptive insults while the congressman spoke, video shows. 'That’s a lie!' one agitated attendee yelled. Others blurted out that the lawmaker was an '[expletive],' and another labeled him as 'shameless.'

Constituents in LaMalfa’s district voiced their discontent with his and Trump’s policies at a town hall meeting on Monday, where disruptions and insults were directed at the congressman. A video captures one frustrated individual yelling ‘That’s a lie!’ while others hurled derogatory terms, labeling the representative ‘shameless.’

A slew of other Republicans have also been on the receiving end of tongue lashings due to displeasure over the One Big Beautiful Bil Act, including Reps. Bryan Steil, R-Wisc., and Mark Alford, R-Mo. Meanwhile, the Democrats have been bashing the Trump-backed measure as an attack on social services, like Medicaid, and a tax cut for the rich.

A slew of other Republicans have also been on the receiving end of tongue lashings due to displeasure over the One Big Beautiful Bil Act, including Reps. Bryan Steil, R-Wisc., and Mark Alford, R-Mo. Meanwhile, the Democrats have been bashing the Trump-backed measure as an attack on social services, like Medicaid, and a tax cut for the rich. 

Their messaging may be working as the midterms are already pointing towards a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. The liberals have a 68 percent chance of winning the House in 2026, according to prediction site Kalshi.

Their messaging may be working as the midterms are already pointing towards a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. The liberals have a 68 percent chance of winning the House in 2026, according to prediction site Kalshi.
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