One of the biggest whoppers Democrats told during the Schumer Shutdown was that they were not fighting for taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegals as part of the demands they wanted to be met to end the shutdown.
“Federal law prohibits the use of Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Affordable Care Act to provide health insurance in any way, shape, or form to undocumented immigrants—period, full stop. Democrats aren’t trying to change that,” Democrat House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) proclaimed at the time.
Though that is exactly what Jeffries and his fellow Democrats were trying to do, it was clear that the subject of taxpayer funding of illegal immigrant healthcare was a sore spot and for good reason, considering the likelihood that Jeffries knew the longer the shutdown dragged out, the more frustrated the American people would get with Democrats holding up funding for the military and SNAP recipients just to get some assurances on healthcare for illegals.
SEE ALSO: Trump Admin Found ‘More Than $1B’ in Taxpayer Dollars Were Spent on Illegals’ Healthcare
Fast forward to December, however, and we have California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) admitting he was proud that his state was the first in the nation to funnel billions in taxpayer dollars to illegal immigrant healthcare:
Trump often lies about Democrats giving healthcare to undocumented immigrants. In California, Newsom actually did it. And defends it.
“I’m proud of that. I believe in universal health care.”
But, he says, “we failed on the border. We need to own up to that.” pic.twitter.com/5MFgK9tFQu
— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) December 11, 2025
It was revealed back in March how the Golden State was exploiting a loophole in Medicaid to help fund their healthcare for illegals Medi-Cal scheme (note: Medi-Cal, which is the state’s Medicaid program and which is open to legal California residents as well, is paid for by a mixture of state and federal funds):
California is funneling billions of federal taxpayer dollars into paying for illegal immigrants’ healthcare, a new study claims.
“They are exploiting an existing loophole within law,” Paul Winfree, president and CEO of the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), told Fox News Digital.
“States can do these provider taxes to funnel money back to the state, that they are then using to pay for, to put illegal immigrants on Medicaid. That’s quite literally what’s going on.”
An HHS Inspector General Report from May 2024 found that “California Improperly Claimed $52.7 Million in Federal Medicaid Reimbursement for Capitation Payments Made on Behalf of Noncitizens With Unsatisfactory Immigration Status.”
The money was allegedly paid back to the feds the next month.
Back to Newsom’s more recent boast, there were some good hot takes on X in response:
I don’t quite get how Trump is lying about Dems giving illegal immigrants healthcare if Dems in America’s most populous state actually did it. https://t.co/cgcfG2kJNs
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) December 11, 2025
Plenty of problems with this tweet.
One that isn’t getting enough discussion is that Gavin Newsom wants credit for taxpayer funded healthcare for illegal immigrants… but wants to sound reasonable on the border.
He doesn’t acknowledge how one helped cause the other https://t.co/Yupozmvdhv
— Matt Whitlock (@MattWhitlock) December 12, 2025
“Proud” to be on the wrong side of a 70-30 issue. https://t.co/PR8gI03usF pic.twitter.com/cQSlnyBpaH
— Jack Pandol (@jackpandol) December 12, 2025
Gavin’s buying votes with federal funds.
— Burrito Queen (@Burrito_Queen7) December 12, 2025
RELATED: Illegals’ Free Healthcare Now Drives CA Ambulance Costs Up 382 Percent
Humiliated Gavin Newsom Walks Back Signature Illegal Alien Benefit As Cold Reality Sets In
One thing that undoubtedly will come out of Newsom saying the quiet part out loud after Congressional Democrats repeatedly lied about their desire to fund healthcare for illegal immigrants is that this statement is going to be used in GOP ads during the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election campaign season, where Newsom presumably will be a candidate himself:
There are about 5 general election ads that will come from this appearance alone.
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) December 12, 2025
Oh, I suspect there will be many more than that.
Editor’s Note: Democrat politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws.
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