Poll: Even Trump voters aren’t very impressed by the GOP’s tax overhaul
Americans see the megabill and tax cuts in general as helping the wealthy far more than the working class, according to the poll, conducted in July by the independent U.K.-based firm Public First.
POLITICO reports that Republicans are struggling to sell their marquee 2025 tax overhaul, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — recently rebranded as the “Working Families Tax Cuts.” A new POLITICO/Public First poll shows that nearly half of Americans say they can’t explain the law, and even many Trump voters are unsure what’s in it or how it affects them.
Among those who have an opinion, more voters say the megabill has hurt their finances than helped. Only a small minority report a significant personal benefit, while many believe the law favors the wealthy over the working and middle class. Outside analysts back this up, noting that the law gives larger gains to higher‑income households, in part by extending earlier Trump-era tax cuts and making some working‑class benefits, like “no tax on tips” and “no tax on overtime,” only temporary.
Republican leaders like Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise argue that the law is putting more money in Americans’ pockets through deductions for tipped income, overtime, and new “Trump Account” investment vehicles for children. But they concede that many voters still don’t know what the law does, and the party finds it difficult to re‑introduce the legislation in a crowded political environment.
The Iran war and rising cost of living dominate public concerns, overshadowing the tax package. A majority of respondents say the conflict has made life more expensive, blunting any perceived benefits from the tax cuts. Only around a quarter of Trump voters think the working class got substantial relief from the law, a warning sign for Republicans heading into the midterms.
Democrats are leaning into a populist critique, framing the 2025 law as a giveaway to billionaires and corporations, funded in part by cuts to programs like food stamps and Medicaid. Democratic candidates in key Senate races highlight these trade‑offs, arguing that federal dollars should prioritize health care and nutrition assistance rather than tax breaks tilted toward the rich. Poll results support that stance, with many Americans preferring safety‑net funding over targeted tax cuts.
The survey also reveals a broader populist mood on taxes: most respondents say billionaires should pay much more, and large shares say the same about corporations and millionaires. While Republicans insist that provisions like tax‑free tips and overtime show they are championing working families, public opinion remains mixed and often poorly informed about the law’s contents.
Polling details: The survey was conducted online by Public First from July 12–15, 2026, among 2,061 U.S. adults, with an overall margin of error of ±2.16 percentage points.
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