Nancy Pelosi accuses Trump of gutting Medicaid to reward billionaires after SOTU speech
WASHINGTON, DC: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sharply criticized President Donald Trump after his State of the Union address, accusing him of slashing Medicaid funding to benefit wealthy Americans.
Pelosi’s remarks came shortly after Trump delivered his lengthy address, during which healthcare received only a brief mention.
Here’s the truth: Trump made the largest cut to Medicaid in history and ripped health care away from millions of Americans to gave tax cuts to billionaires.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 25, 2026
He’s not helping working families. He’s Robin Hood in reverse.
Pelosi claims Trump prioritized tax cuts over health care
In a strongly worded post, Pelosi did not mince words about her view of Trump’s record.
“Here’s the truth: Trump made the largest cut to Medicaid in history and ripped health care away from millions of Americans to give tax cuts to billionaires,” she wrote.
“He’s not helping working families. He’s Robin Hood in reverse.”
Healthcare gets limited attention in Trump’s address
Her comments quickly set the tone for Democratic pushback following the speech, placing Medicaid and affordability at the center of the political clash. According to the figures cited by critics, the president spent roughly five minutes discussing healthcare during his 107-minute address.
This came, they argued, at a time when many Americans remain worried about rising medical costs and insurance premiums.
During the speech, Trump maintained a protective stance toward major entitlement programs, saying he “will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.”
However, Pelosi and Democratic officials pointed to what they described as contradictions between that pledge and recent policy changes.
Democrats warn of broader healthcare impact
The Democratic National Committee’s Rapid Response Director, Kendall Witmer, also issued a statement criticizing the administration’s approach.
“After ripping away health care from millions of Americans and skyrocketing premiums, Trump spent only 5 minutes addressing health care from the podium tonight,” Witmer said.
“Most Americans say the cost of healthcare is their top concern as they worry about how to afford their bills or forgo coverage entirely. And they know why - Trump gutted Americans’ health care and hiked premium costs, and tonight, he offered nothing to make health care more affordable.”
Witmer further argued that Trump’s legislation “made the largest cut to Medicaid in history and put hundreds of rural hospitals at risk of shuttering - all so he could give massive tax breaks to his wealthy donors.”
