US President Donald Trump said that the country cannot fund programs such as child care and health insurance at the federal level, as resources should be directed to military defense. The statement was made during a private Easter lunch at the White House, and a video of the speech was briefly posted on social networks and later taken down, FOX32 Chicago reported.
"It is not possible to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare and all these separate things... We have to focus on one thing - military defense," Trump said, adding that such costs should be borne at the state, not federal, level.
The statement comes amid the ongoing conflict with Iran and increased US military spending. On the same day, the president emphasized that the country is at war and must prioritize its security.
However, according to surveys, a significant portion of Americans support such social policies. Associated Press data shows that about 75% of adults consider the cost of child care a serious problem, and two-thirds support guaranteed access to health care.
The White House later clarified that the president had in mind the need to limit abuse and fraud in these programs, emphasizing that the administration remains committed to preserving and strengthening the social system.
What are the programs in question: Medicare - a federal health insurance program for people over 65 and for certain groups with disabilities. It covers hospital expenses, treatment and medications; Medicaid - a health insurance program for low-income people, jointly funded by the federal government and individual states; Day care programs - include subsidies and benefits for families with children that help cover the costs of daycare and childcare so parents can work.
These programs are a key part of the U.S. welfare system and are often the subject of political debate between the federal government and individual states over their funding and scope.