Donald Trump participated in a maternal healthcare event today where he attempted to spin his administration’s disastrous record on healthcare. In reality, Trump and Republicans’ massive cuts to healthcare have spiked costs for millions of Americans or forced them to forgo care entirely and put hundreds of rural hospitals and clinics at risk of closing their doors across the country. 

First, Trump and Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill slashed $1 TRILLION from Medicaid, gutting healthcare for millions and putting 900 rural hospitals at risk of closure. Then, they refused to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which hiked monthly premiums for over 20 million Americans. Despite Trump’s repeated claims that drug prices have come down, nearly all of the drugmakers involved with TrumpRX have continued to raise the cost of hundreds of medications and launched new ones at an average price of $353,000 a year.

To top it off, Trump, the self-proclaimed “father of fertility,” has fallen far short on his promises to increase access to IVF and make it more affordable. Two years ago, Trump promised, “The government is going to pay for [IVF], or we’re going to get — we’ll mandate your insurance company to pay for it.” However, the White House reportedly abandoned plans late last year to require insurers to cover IVF, and their guidance is unlikely to meaningfully lower costs or increase coverage and access to IVF. 

In response, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement: 

“Donald Trump and Republicans slashed healthcare for millions of Americans and caused prices to skyrocket, and no amount of spin will change that. Working families are being pushed to the brink, forced to choose between paying for basic necessities like rent and groceries or the cost of a trip to the doctor or their life-saving prescriptions. Americans are tired of footing the bill for massive tax handouts for billionaires, while Trump slashes their healthcare. While Republicans gamble with Americans’ health, Democrats are focused on lowering costs and making healthcare more affordable.”  

According to recent polling, nearly half of U.S. adults say it is difficult to afford healthcare costs, and more than one-third say that in the past year, they have skipped or postponed getting care because of high costs. More than 40% of adults say they have not taken their medication as prescribed because of costs. Healthcare remains one of Americans’ most important issues, as over 60% of Americans say they worry a “great deal” about the availability and affordability of healthcare.