Overview
- Video of a private Easter luncheon at the White House, briefly posted Wednesday on the official YouTube channel and then made private, shows President Trump saying the federal government "can't take care" of daycare, Medicare and Medicaid.
- Trump said states should run and pay for those programs, even if that means raising state taxes, while Washington focuses on "military protection" and ongoing wars.
- After the footage circulated, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was stressing fraud prevention in these programs, pointing to an anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance and the swearing-in of a national fraud enforcement chief.
- The comments landed as the Pentagon seeks roughly $200 billion to fund the Iran war, and new polling reported by CNN shows large majorities opposing that price tag.
- Democrats and analysts warned of political fallout, with critics highlighting how shifting costs to states could raise bills for families and seniors who rely on child care subsidies, Medicare and Medicaid.