Trump says it's 'not possible' for the U.S. to pay for Medicaid, Medicare and day care: 'We're fighting wars'
By: Eleanor Skelly (NBC News)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said it's "not possible" for the federal government to fund Medicare, Medicaid and child care costs, arguing that it should be up to the states to "take care" of those programs while the federal government focuses on military spending.
The president's remarks were delivered to attendees at a private Easter luncheon at the White House, where Trump also accused Democratic-led states of fraud.
He went on to say that he told Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought: "Don't send any money for day care, because the United States can't take care of day care. That has to be up to a state. We can't take care of day care. We're a big country. We have 50 states. We have all these other people. We're fighting wars. We can't take care of day care. You got to let a state take care of day care, and they should pay for it too."
Later in his remarks, the president added that states would have to raise their taxes to pay for child care costs and that the federal government "could lower our taxes a little bit to them to make up" for it.
"It's not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things," Trump said. "They can do it on a state basis. You can't do it on a federal. We have to take care of one thing: military protection. We have to guard the country."
The Easter luncheon where the president made these remarks was not open to the press, but the White House posted the video of Trump's remarks on its YouTube page — as it usually does with open press events — and then deleted it.
"President Trump was referring to rooting out the billions of dollars of fraud in these vital programs — and his record proves he will always protect and strengthen Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid," White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said in a statement. "The President proudly signed historic legislation eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits for nearly all seniors and barring illegal immigrants and other ineligible individuals from fraudulently receiving Medicare and Medicaid benefits. The Trump economic agenda will continue to lower costs, making everyday life more affordable for hardworking American families."
The federal government currently provides states with funds to subsidize child care for low-income families through programs like Child Care and Development Block Grants and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Democrats have long sought to pass federal laws that would further subsidize the cost of child care for families with young children.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., introduced legislation last year that would expand early education access and cap child care costs for families at 7% of their household income.
Some Democrats quickly seized on Trump's comments Wednesday, comparing the cost of child care to the cost of the ongoing U.S. military operation in Iran, which topped $11.3 billion in its first six days last month.
"Trump says we can pay for war in Iran but can't afford childcare. Mr. President, the billions you wasted in Iran could pay for $10 day childcare for every American family with childcare workers paid $25 an hour," Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., wrote in a post on X.
"For the cost of 3 weeks of this war, we could provide vision, hearing, and dental coverage to every senior on Medicare for a year. It is possible. Trump just doesn't care to do it," Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., wrote on X.
Members of the Trump administration, including the president, have for months accused states that receive federal grants for child care of perpetrating fraud, with little evidence. In January, the Department of Health and Human Services even froze access to child care and family assistance funds for five states led by Democrats: California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.
In December, the Trump administration targeted Minnesota in particular following viral accusations from conservative influencers that child care centers in the state were fraudulent.
A later review by the state's Department of Children, Youth, and Families found that the day care centers at the heart of the viral attacks were operating normally.
On Wednesday, Trump again accused Democratic states of fraud, telling attendees at the Easter luncheon, "In Minnesota, in Los Angeles, they have thousands of [day care centers]."
Trump claimed the locations "have more day care centers than they have children. They literally, so they have thousands. So we go and we send inspectors out. Of the 700 that they looked at, approximately, in Minnesota, there were not one that was a day care center."
He also accused Republican-led states of perpetrating fraud and "thievery," saying that they have to "compete" with Democratic-led states.
"It's many states, probably Republican states too, because they're going to see it, and they're not as — we're not as thievery, but, you know, they don't believe in thievery — but when they see the Democrats doing it, and then they have to compete with it. So I can't imagine they're not doing it. I just can't imagine," Trump said.
The president has appointed Vice President JD Vance as a key player in his mission to root out fraud. Last week, Vance convened the first meeting of the administration's new anti-fraud task force. And on Wednesday, the vice president swore in Colin McDonald to be the assistant attorney general for national fraud enforcement.
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How many Republicans are going to be left in Congress after the mid-terms?
fuck them, who cares. gee, it's such a bummer what POS/POTUS is doing to the republican party ...
I care. The less the better. None would be best.
you don't want them governing america, I don't want them where they can breathe american air ...
I could live with that.
Screw the GOP. It is what Trump is doing to America and all its people that I find totally unacceptable and should not be be allowed to continue.
Arvo..you poor buggars..
You are screwed when you go to hospital..
And now screwed for your medications..
I guess that's one way to bump off the population without firing a bullet..
What a government..
I don't think july 4th is going to be the celebration maga thinks it will be ...
Morning...no you could turn to part of your British heritage again and have a good ole Nov 5th instead..💥
effigies of trmp instead of guy fawkes
Remember when Trump said:
Not anymore...
Well he just pardoned some of the clowns stealing from Medicare and erased restitution and fines of millions.
It happened in 2020 and 2026 again,
A nursing home owner got a Trump pardon. The families of his patients got nothing. | The Lund Report
Trump pardons wipe nearly $2 billion in victim repayment and taxpayer recovery for Medicare and tax fraud, and more | Governor of California
Trump keeps jingling the car keys to distract the faithful.
he just declared war on off shore Big Pharma with a 100% tarriff.
( with dozens of exceptions)
Trump unveils 100% tariff on some patented drugs on 'Liberation Day' anniversary
So much for "America first."
maga first ...
Trump first, all else is way way back there.
Morning...
Me first..in Trump's case..🙄
Apparently that's what they seem to believe.
But the Magnificent Ballroom!
While Trump touts that it won't cost the taxpayers anything, but what about UPKEEP literally for years and years.
Trump has legally been denied completion of his copious ballroom, as Trump does not own the WH. However, it appears he will blatantly ignore that decision and is determined to finish it.
After all....he is Trump, who is the 'King' of the US, so he can do whatever he wants to. /s
How can the federal government afford to help you with childcare when it’s so consumed with blowing up other countries’ children?
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But seemingly impossible for most conservatives.
Right, it's the progressives who just started an unprovoked war that's costing the American taxpayers $1 billion a day and increasing our gas prices.
Oh, so we're supposed to spend all our tax dollars being the tough and macho roid rage military so some wanna-be Rambo ammo-sexuals can get their rocks off. I'd much rather spend my tax dollars helping feed hungry kids here than to buy another missile to launch into some third world country to kill their kids there. Most Americans are NOT on board with rightwing conservatives desire for a holy war. Fuck the Zionists and Christo-fascists and every other dumb fuck religious group dead set on provoking the world into their hoped for Armageddon.
You’re right. Taking care of its citizens is an act meant for countries that care about their citizens, of which there are many … just not this one.
The 'entitlement' programs are primarily Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Social Security and Medicare were supposed to be funded by taxpayers and employers' payroll contributions. Medicaid is the one that is funded through general taxation.
So what is your proposal? Cancel these 'entitlements'?
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So far today, we lost an A-10, rescued the pilot, replacement cost unknown because A-10s cannot be replaced or replicated.
Yesterday we lost another F15E ( $66 million) one of the two fliers was rescued, but one of the Blackhawks was damaged with multiple injuries to the crew, during the Search and rescue mission. One flier still missing.
Three other F15E s were shot down by Kuwait in error two weeks ago. (-$198Million)
So far 16 MQ 90 Reaper drones have been lost in Iran. 15 in the air and one in Saudi Arabia sitting on the runway. ( $500 million in losses )
The Israelis' have also lost a few Reapers and a dozen home grown variants.
Trump says we already won, several times.
Trump says we already obliterated the Navy, SAMs and air defenses and ballistic missile launchers like the Soviet 400s and 600 systems, several times.
Tulsi Gabard says they still have 50% of their mobile missile launchers.
Tulsi will probably be fired before Charlie Sheen's "winning" stand in, Pete Hegseth the optimistic cheer leader from hell who prays to Jesus to help kill Iranians.
Thank Christianity that the stock market was closed today. Fewer losses for all.
Which is a shame, as the A-10 is a sweet attack plane. Given its ruggedness and durability, taking one down is not so easy.
It seems like we're having a hard time against a supposedly "inferior" enemy.
It's best to assume that whatever Trump says is a lie. Trump is like Bizarro: whatever he says, it means the opposite
Given our losses, those systems must respawn, like in an RPG.
With Trump at the helm, we all lose.
I read an article on the Internet today that his spiritual advisor, or whatever she is, compared Trump to Jesus.
Oh, I'm sure Jesus was all ears to hear every word she said. Trump sure was.
they should erect a cross on the white house lawn. I'll ship a framing nail gun to the maga thumpers ...
If they ever do that, I hope Trump never touches it or it would burst into flames. /s
When was the last time you believed something that came out of Trump's mouth?
Uhhhh.............
Whenever he says "I'll let you know in about two weeks."
it's already been 3 weeks since the maga dumb ass said the iran war would be over in 2 weeks ...
Maybe he doesn't feel it in his bones yet.
I love what he wrote today:
Inspiring!
I find it disgusting that after wanting trillions of dollars for a needless war that he says we can't afford to even pay for daycare for our children, is indifferent to the loss of our men and women in uniform he is throwing under the bus for a war he started for his own personal purposes.
And he says America first. I guess he meant America is first to pay the price of his insane ego.
trump has a lifetime history of bankrupting others with his hare-brained schemes, after he's looted more than his share of investors money ...
Why else is he asking for trillions for his war. He no doubt intends to pad his own pockets and call it good. Kings don't like cheap things. That is why the WH looks like a cheap brothel on the inside from all that fake gold crap in it now. He has shamed our country to the world in every way possible.