President Donald Trump made clear Tuesday night that Republican budget plans won’t target key entitlement programs. “We’re not doing anything with entitlements,” Trump declared during a live town hall event hosted by NewsNation. The statement comes as Congressional Republicans debate competing budget proposals that could spark internal party conflicts.
House Republicans recently passed a $2 trillion spending reduction package that avoided Social Security cuts but left room for Medicaid reductions. Meanwhile, Senate GOP members have proposed dramatically smaller cuts totaling just $4 billion. Several Republican senators have already voiced concerns about trimming Medicaid funding, signaling potential disagreements as budget negotiations continue.
Trump’s comments attempt to settle growing concerns about potential benefit reductions as lawmakers craft spending legislation. The former president described the forthcoming GOP budget proposal as “big, beautiful” during the televised event, though Senate leaders acknowledge the process may extend beyond the typical 30-day timeline.
The differing approaches between House and Senate Republicans highlight ongoing divisions within the party about fiscal priorities. While House conservatives push for aggressive spending reductions, Senate counterparts appear more cautious about cutting safety net programs that many Americans rely on.
Political analysts suggest Trump’s public stance could influence final budget negotiations, potentially protecting Social Security and Medicaid from significant changes. However, with legislative details still being finalized, advocates for these programs say they’ll continue monitoring developments closely.
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