Johnson Says ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Be ‘Jet Fuel’ For Economy
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said that President Donald Trump’s large spending bill will act as “jet fuel” for the economy despite criticisms from Democrats.
Johnson, who ceremonially handed Trump the gavel after the president signed the signature tax cuts and spending package into law Friday, hinted at two additional bills planned within the next year. During an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” he described the “big, beautiful bill” as “a huge leap forward for our priorities” and the first phase of a three-part strategy.
Johnson anticipates a second reconciliation bill by fall and a third by spring before the current Congress adjourns, he told Fox News anchor Shannon Bream.
“I think we can do that, and so you’ll see more of us advancing these common-sense principles to deliver that American First agenda for the people,” Johnson said. “That’s what they elected us to do, and this was hugely forward.”
Johnson pushed back against a reported memo from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) that claimed Republicans would lose their majority in 2026 due to the “big, beautiful bill.”
“Our Republicans are going to be out across the country telling the simple truth, and guess what? It will be demonstrated,” Johnson told Bream. “Everyone will have more take-home pay, they’ll have more jobs and opportunity. The economy will be doing better, and we’ll be able to point to that as the obvious result of what we did. So don’t buy into those false talking points.”
The speaker dismissed criticisms from Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and DNC Chair Ken Martin as “old, tired talking points” commonly used to oppose any Republican tax legislation.
Johnson emphasized that the bill permanently extends the 2017 Trump tax cuts, which he said primarily benefited lower- and middle-income Americans. He noted that the bottom 20% of earners experienced their lowest federal tax rates in 40 years due to those cuts and highlighted that the new megabill builds on this by reducing taxes on tips, overtime pay, and seniors—measures he believes will boost Republican prospects in the 2026 midterm elections.
“We’re giving everybody a tax cut,” Johnson Bream. “And that’s going to help the economy, it’s going be jet fuel. Small business owners, entrepreneurs, risk-takers, the people that provide the jobs, manufacturers, farmers get assistance here, and that will lift the economy.”
Citing the Council of Economic Advisers, Johnson stated that the megabill will drive 3% economic growth, create 4 million jobs, and raise the average household’s take-home pay by $13,000.
“This is a great thing for people who go to work every day,” Johnson said. “They’re going to feel that. And we’re excited about the upcoming election cycle in ’26. Because people will be riding an economic high, just as we did after the first two years of the first Trump administration. This time it’s on steroids.”
Johnson also addressed criticism from Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., who contended that the megabill makes tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans permanent, while those benefiting the working class are temporary and set to expire within a few years.
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“Now, I don’t think he read the bill, it’s 940 pages, so I would give some grace on that,” Johnson said in response to the Democrat’s claims.
Bream responded by noting that Ivey said he listened to a reading of the bill on the Senate floor.
“Yeah, you’re right, for 19 hours or whatever it took,” Johnson said. “If you make between $30,000 and $80,000 a year, you can have a 15% less federal tax rate. You’re going to save more money, you’re going to keep more of your hard-earned money, and that’s not going away.
“So by making all these tax cuts permanent, it’s the largest tax bill, the most important, most consequential tax bill that Congress has ever passed because of what it does for people who go out and work hard every day,” he said.
