Trump takes populist turn against health insurers

Source: The Hill

11/28/25 5:00 PM ET


President Trump is blaming health insurers for rising health care costs, adopting a populist approach as he seeks to counter attacks by Democrats that the GOP has done too little to keep health care affordable. Democrats are pushing Congress to quickly hold a vote on extending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits scheduled to expire at the end of this year.

Trump is reportedly preparing a proposal that would extend the subsidies for two years, along with a series of reforms favored by Republicans, but delayed an announcement facing GOP pushback. Whether or not a deal gets done, Democrats have used the shutdown to put Republicans on defense over health care, and Trump and his allies are looking to reframe the conversation by making insurers enemy No. 1.

“I’m sure the White House realizes that, you know, having premiums increase on voters ahead, especially heading into an election year where affordability is a big conversation, is not ideal politically,” one GOP campaign strategist told The Hill. “They may come to some kind of deal, but that will kind of maybe help alleviate the attention that’s being directed at insurance companies right now. But healthcare is still going to be a big issue.”

Trump said last week he would only support a plan involving “sending the money directly back to the people,” aiming to circumvent insurance companies. “The only healthcare I will support or approve is sending the money directly back to the people, with nothing going to the big, fat, rich insurance companies, who have made $trillions, and ripped off America long enough,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5621976-trump-blames-insurers-healthcare/