A senior Trump administration official sparked online backlash after being asked how the cost of tax cuts provided by the GOP spending bill would be counteracted, stating that the administration was depending on the future possibility of a growing economy.
Russell Vought, a self-proclaimed Christian nationalist who serves as director of the Office of Management and Budget, spoke to Fox News' Harris Faulkner after President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful" spending bill passed through the House of Representatives.
"Talk to me about what this bill costs. It's been widely reported, so far coming out of the House, it would cost $4 trillion if you're looking for $2 trillion in mandatory spending cuts. But that doesn't get you down to a lower number. What do you think about the trillions of dollars that this would add potentially to the debt? And how do we alleviate that?" Faulkner asked.
"The tax cuts cost $4 trillion. We believe that it is important and a foundation for balancing the budget is to remain a growing economy. This bill will preserve that option, we will have $2.6 trillion of economic growth, dynamic scoring," Vought began.
"We don't think that this is a high watermark, we actually think that's a middle of the road expectation of what we could see. And then the remaining amount of $2 trillion of the mandatory reforms pays for what the economic growth does not get us all the way there with," he continued. "So there is a net deficit reduction between those two major dials, and we believe it will only improve from there because we'll have economic growth and we'll be able to lock these mandatory spending reforms in of which we think we're gonna get more savings."
Social media users quickly took to online platforms to express their disagreement with Vought, and their beliefs that the GOP's spending bill would not deliver the results the party believed it would.
"The only thing growing is our debt. My grandchildren are screwed. If we could only get the rich billionaires and millionaires to pay their fair share of taxes. (churches too)," wrote one user.
The only thing growing is our debt. My grandchildren are screwed. If we could only get the rich billionaires and millionaires to pay their fair share of taxes. (churches too)
— Denison Barb (@DenisonBarbs) May 22, 2025
"That's a pretty big problem considering what has happened to the economy since Donald took office," said another.
That's a pretty big problem considering what has happened to the economy since Donald took office.
— Terrance. (@ExscapeVelozity) May 22, 2025
"How does more debt grow a shrieking economy?" wrote a third.
How does more debt grow a shrieking economy?
— May Taurus (@citizenuniverse) May 22, 2025
"So the government believes in magic pixie dust," said a fourth.
So the government believes in magic pixie dust 👀
— paul (@x_pkw_x) May 22, 2025
MAGA is low IQ. Not sure why billionaires need breaks. Ridiculous bill.
— Jenny 🇨🇦🇺🇸 (@shindig101) May 22, 2025
So, they want us to bail them out of this terrible debt inflating bill by having us spend more, after they take money out of our pockets and cause prices to increase drastically.
— Bill Johnson (@Bill43111) May 22, 2025
LOL Phony tax cuts will not 'grow the economy.' Most of the $5 trillion will go to corporations and the super wealthy who will simply stash it away or buy another vacation property. 💸 #BigBeautifulBill
— Scott 𝕏 (@bullriders1) May 22, 2025
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
