President Donald Trump went on a rant about the federal government’s ability to pay for day care, Medicare and Medicaid while offering a wild excuse about why it couldn’t afford to do so.

“The United States can’t take care of day care,” Trump said during Wednesday’s Easter lunch at the White House. “That has to be up to a state. We can’t take care of day care. We’re a big country. We have 50 states. We have all these other people. We’re fighting wars. We can’t take care of day care. You gotta let a state take care of day care, and they should pay for it too.”

“It’s not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things. They can do it on a state basis. We have to take care of one thing: military protection,” he added.

Trump: We can't take care of daycare. We're a big country. We're fighting wars. It's not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, all these things. pic.twitter.com/vLGpp7KJnm

Trump’s comments echoed a plan Congressional Republicans are considering to slash federal health care spending in order to fund the Pentagon’s $200 billion request for the ongoing war in Iran.

The U.S. spends just 0.2 percent of its G.D.P. on child care for children 2 and under, which comes to about $200 a year for most families, The New York Times reported in 2021. In the developed world, government support of early childhood care ranges from $3,327 (Israel) to $29,726 (Norway) per child each year.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 70 countries worldwide offer some form of universal health care.

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.