President Donald Trump’s latest health care proposal has set off an unusual wave of public criticism from within his own party, exposing a widening divide among Republicans as they head into another contentious policy debate.
Trump unveiled the plan through a series of posts on his Truth Social account, pitching it as a major overhaul that would hand states broad control over low-income health coverage. Under the proposal, federal funding currently used for Affordable Care Act (ACA) income-based subsidies would be converted into block grants. States would then have the freedom to apply the funds to Medicaid, private insurance partnerships, or customized state-run programs.
Trump argued that shifting power away from Washington would reduce costs, increase flexibility, and curb federal spending. But several conservative lawmakers quickly rejected the idea, signaling that the party remains deeply split over how to approach health care policy nearly a decade after Republicans last attempted to dismantle the ACA.
Rep. of Kentucky was one of the first to push back, warning that shifting authority to the states does not change the fundamental flaws he sees in government-managed health systems. Rep. of Texas expressed a similar sentiment, bluntly posting his opposition and arguing the country does not need another sprawling government-backed health framework. Other Republicans suggested that reopening the health care fight could become politically risky as the party holds only a narrow majority in the House.
Trump’s team quickly countered the criticism. A spokesperson accused dissenting GOP members of aligning with entrenched Washington interests and protecting pharmaceutical and insurance companies rather than supporting reforms that empower states.
Democrats seized on the internal dispute, portraying the clash as evidence of a fractured Republican strategy and warning that Trump’s plan would dismantle protections many Americans rely on. A Democratic spokesperson said the early backlash highlights what they describe as an “unworkable and damaging” health care vision.
The disagreement underscores how volatile the health care debate remains within the GOP. While Republicans broadly share skepticism of the ACA, they have struggled to unite behind a replacement approach – a challenge that derailed their efforts in previous years and now appears poised to resurface.
As Trump continues to promote the proposal, party leaders face the task of navigating familiar ideological divisions at a moment when consensus is increasingly hard to find.
