/Trump's New Spending Bill Sparks Controversy and Deficit Fears Ahead of 2024

Trump's Spending Bill Faces Criticism and Deficit Concerns

Amid heated debates in Washington, former President Donald Trump's latest spending proposal, dubbed the "Big Beautiful" bill, is drawing significant controversy. Critics compare its unpopularity to the contentious "Project 2025" and question the bill's potential economic impact.

Analyst Jason Johnson shared with MSNBC's Ari Melber that just as with Project 2025, the Trump campaign struggles to manage the backlash against the spending bill. "You hear members of the Senate Republicans saying, 'I don’t like this part of the bill,' but they’re still going to end up voting for it. So that is a huge problem," Johnson mentioned.

The Senate is poised to vote on amendments to Trump's proposal, with projections indicating a potential increase in the national deficit by approximately $3.3 trillion. The Congressional Budget Office warns that nearly 12 million people might lose Medicaid coverage, yet many Republicans remain undecided on their support.

Despite Trump's disavowal of any influence by Project 2025 on his administration's policies, his Cabinet members, including former border czar Tom Homan, contributed to the controversial manifesto's creation. Project 2025, introduced by the Heritage Foundation, outlined substantial governmental changes and faced strong public disapproval ahead of the 2024 elections.

Johnson highlighted polling data showing Trump's current bill holding a net approval rating between -19 to -29 percentage points, underscoring public discontent. A Navigator survey revealed a similar sentiment with Project 2025, with 52% of Americans against it compared to a mere 13% in favor.

Concerns arise among political analysts that backing Trump's spending plan might jeopardize Republican lawmakers in the upcoming 2026 midterms, given its unpopularity. "The math ain’t mathing," Johnson stated, questioning Republicans' ability to justify the bill to their constituents amid widespread skepticism about its fiscal implications.

The White House has yet to comment on the situation, leaving many to speculate on the bill's future and its potential effects on upcoming elections.