President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the federal government could not keep funding Medicare, Medicaid, and child care. He suggested that states should cover those expenses while Washington focuses on national defense. He made these comments during a White House Easter lunch as his administration faces criticism over war spending and GOP plans affecting Medicaid in a comprehensive domestic policy bill.
“I told Russell Vought, don’t send any money for daycare,” Trump said, referring to his budget director. He mentioned that the nation is “fighting wars” and claimed it was “not possible” for the federal government to manage “daycare, Medicaid, Medicare.” The president also stated that states could take on those responsibilities, even if it resulted in higher taxes.
These statements mark a notable shift from Trump’s earlier campaign promises to protect Medicare and make child care more affordable. The Washington Post later reported that the White House clarified Trump was referring to eliminating fraud in those programs rather than cutting support for them.
Trump: We can’t take care of daycare. We’re a big country. We’re fighting wars. It’s not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, all these things. pic.twitter.com/vLGpp7KJnm
— FactPost (@factpostnews) April 1, 2026
A White House statement noted that the administration maintained Trump’s record showed he would continue to support the programs while targeting improper payments. Trump’s remarks coincided with ongoing debates among congressional Republicans about how to fund his broader tax and spending agenda.
Reuters reported in March that Senate Republicans were divided over whether significant Medicaid changes would be necessary to meet spending-cut goals linked to Trump’s legislative plans, which include extending his 2017 tax cuts, funding border enforcement, and raising military spending.
This debate has already led to specific proposals in the House. The Associated Press reported that House Republicans moved forward with a tax package costing at least $4.9 trillion, partially covering that with cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and green energy programs. AP stated that a preliminary estimate from the Congressional Budget Office found that the Medicaid provisions would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million.
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Under the House plan, some Medicaid recipients would have to meet new work or “community engagement” requirements of at least 80 hours per month, and eligibility checks would occur more often. AP reported that Medicaid currently provides health coverage for about 70 million Americans, making any changes politically risky for Republicans, especially those from areas with large numbers of beneficiaries.
Trump’s statement also seemed to contradict his own White House messaging from earlier this year. In January, the administration introduced what it called the “Great Healthcare Plan,” claiming it would lower prices, cut premiums, and send more money directly to patients instead of insurers. The White House stated at that time the plan would make health care more affordable and build on Trump’s first-term policies.
Democrats quickly seized on the new comments, arguing that Trump had effectively prioritized war spending over domestic programs used by older Americans, low-income families, and parents struggling with child care expenses.
