Politics

Trump says US can't fund Medicare, Medicaid and day care because 'we're fighting wars'

Trump says US can't fund Medicare, Medicaid and day care because 'we're fighting wars'

President Trump told Americans Wednesday night that after 32 days of Operation Epic Fury, Iran is "essentially no longer a threat." He added that the effort targeted Iran’s military capabilities, including its navy, air force, and missile program, and sought to cripple its defense industrial base.

President Donald Trump said "it’s not possible" for the U.S. to fund day care and Medicare programs because "we’re fighting wars" and "we have to take care of one thing: military protection."

Trump made the remarks during a private Easter luncheon at the White House Wednesday. The event was closed to the press, but the White House inadvertently shared video of Trump’s speech on social media. The video was only up for a short time before the White House made it private. Business Insider reporter Bryan Metzge saved the video while it was still on the White House account.

"It’s not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things," Trump said during the speech. "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.

President Donald Trump speaks from the Cross Hall of the White House on April 1, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images)

"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’ve got to let a state take care of day care, and they should pay for it too."

RELATED: Two-thirds of Americans say government should ensure health care for all: poll

A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 75% of U.S. adults see child care costs as a "major problem," while 50% say helping working families pay for child care should be a "high priority" for the federal government.

RELATED: Poll shows most Americans feel child care costs are a 'major problem'

According to a Pew Research survey conducted in December, roughly two-thirds of Americans believe the federal government should ensure that everyone has health care coverage.