President Donald Trump has ignited a domestic firestorm by declaring that federal funding for Medicare, Medicaid, and childcare must be sacrificed to win the ongoing war against Iran.
Speaking at an Easter Lunch reception at the White House on Wednesday, 1 April 2026, the Commander-in-Chief argued that the skyrocketing costs of the Middle East conflict, which topped $11.3 billion (£8.47bn) in its first six days alone, leave the Treasury unable to support national social programmes.
