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The Senator of Arizona Ruben Gallego sparked a crowd in Iowa on Saturday by attacking the GOP tax bill which is supported by President Donald Trump.
Speaking at a meeting of the city of Town in Davenport, in the east of Iowa, Gallego, a veteran sailor and the first Latin American senator from Arizona, said that the bill, known as “Big, beautiful bill” would make the Americans “more sick and poorer” because of its cups for Medicaid and food assistance programs.
Why it matters
The House of Representatives adopted the only big and beautiful bill by 218 votes to 214 in July, after months of internal guest divisions and last minute negotiations.
The legislation of more than 1,000 pages extends Trump’s tax cuts in 2017, eliminates taxes on advice and overtime, and stimulates the financing of the application and the defense of immigration. The bill will also reduce the budget of the Ministry of Health and Social Services by $ 880 billion over 10 years, including Medicaid reductions.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would lead to 11.8 million people losing health insurance by 2034, the majority of people losing their coverage of Medicaid.
The appearance of Gallego to the town hall aroused new speculations about it potentially to the presidency in 2028.
AP photo / Charlie Neibergall
What to know
Gallego told an audience of some 180 democrats: “We are now more sick and poorer because of Donald Trump. We are now more sick and poorer because of [Iowa GOP Representative Mariannette] Miller-Meeks. We are now going to be more sick and poorer and dead, according to [Iowa GOP Senator Joni Ernst]- Because they made this choice. “”
He also weighed on the controversy of Jeffrey Epstein. “It’s just something strange about it. It just smells bad,” he said.
During his visit to Iowa, he dodged a question on a presidential race, Posed by local news kcci 8 news. “Right now, all I consider is how to win in 2026, how to make more Democrats in the House, in the Senate, how to adopt healthy legislation,” he said.
“It’s long from now,” he continued. “Right now, we are focusing on 2026.”
The Fair of the State of Iowa is known to attract hopes of the White House. Senator @Rubengallego (D-AZ), which stopped yesterday at the Fair of the State of Iowa, is not excluded from a presidential offer of 2028 but told me that it was “concentrated on 2026” at the moment. He says he will return to the Fair next year. @KCCINEWS pic.twitter.com/hagexfssy9
– Amanda Rooker Kcci (@aroookeerkcci) August 9, 2025
What people say
Pete Wernimont, a Waterloo resident Who attended the town hall told the Associated Press: “I think this bill helps democrats to see clearly what is at stake with the future of protections for so many ordinary Americans. I just hope they are there when it really matters in a year.”
Alexandra Salter, Davenport doctor assistant Said at the point of sale: “I came here because I work in health care and this bill will harm health care. I think we are more vocal, because we have to speak.”
Speaking before the event, senator Ruben Gallego told journalists: “This is the time of galvanization that occurs because the Democrats understand now, we are the people who fight for the middle class and the working class of America. It is a moment of clarification for us.”
He continued: “Trying to invigorate the Democratic Party, trying to remind us that our main base is the problems of working class and working class – that’s all we are focusing on. I will certainly be back to help any Democrat in 2026 and 2028 because Iowa should be at stake in the two years.”
What happens next
Democrats will continue to attack republican policies while hoping to obtain support before the mid-term elections in November 2026.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if Gallego presented himself to the presidency in 2028.
