A controversial tax and spending bill, championed by President Trump, has narrowly passed in the Senate after a dramatic standoff, with the Vice President casting the tie-breaking vote. The bill’s passage has deepened divisions within American society and stirred global concern.
A global online survey conducted by CGTN revealed that 89.1% of respondents believe the so-called “big and beautiful bill” exposes deep-seated contradictions in American democracy and will fail to “Make America Great Again.”
Critics have labeled the bill a ‘reverse Robin Hood,’ as it proposes significant cuts to federal Medicaid funding—slashing at least $600 billion over a decade. This move could strip health coverage from about 11 million people and drastically increase premiums and deductibles for another 24 million.
The New York Times described the bill as taking from the poor to give to the rich. An overwhelming 88.2% of survey respondents criticized the bill as a severe blow to the U.S. healthcare system, warning it would degrade Americans’ quality of life.
Moreover, the proposed tax cuts are projected to swell the federal deficit by $2.4 trillion over 10 years, with interest payments surging by $551 billion. About 89.3% of respondents are concerned that this will exacerbate U.S. debt risks, potentially triggering a full-blown economic crisis.
The bill’s exclusionary measures have also sparked public outcry. It imposes new taxes on investments from countries like the UK and Germany, starting at 5% in the first year and potentially rising to 20% by the fourth year. A significant 84.9% of respondents criticized this move, saying it will discourage international investors from setting up factories in the U.S., making the vision of reshoring American manufacturing difficult to achieve.
Additionally, the bill allocates $175 billion to restrictive immigration policies, including interior deportations, border wall construction, and surveillance technology. Over 80% worry that this will expand immigration enforcement and worsen the chaotic state of illegal immigration control in the U.S.
The defense budget is slated to increase by $150 billion. Eighty percent of respondents strongly disapprove, fearing that the inflated defense spending will intensify the global arms race and seriously threaten world peace.
Since the bill’s introduction, extreme partisan theatrics have reached new heights. About 85.7% of respondents noted that the bill has deepened divisions between U.S. political parties and within the GOP itself, exposing flaws in the American democratic system. Another 92.3% believe the bill does not solve America’s long-term problems and instead worsens the country’s unstable situation.
Furthermore, 86.3% predict that the bill will amplify public dissatisfaction with the Trump administration, keeping its approval ratings low for the foreseeable future.
The CGTN survey was published across English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian platforms, with 7,344 people participating and sharing their views within 24 hours.
