Biden criticizes Republicans for 'damaging healthcare'

WASHINGTON

US President Joe Biden lashed out Tuesday at House Republicans who want to cut the deficit, saying it would explode the deficit and damage the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.

“For millions of Americans, healthcare hangs in the balance,” he said in Virginia Beach, where he delivered an address to highlight his administration’s healthcare plans.

Noting that “MAGA” Republicans in Congress want to cut the deficit, he said their plans would add $3 trillion to it in the next 10 years.

“How are they going to make the numbers add up? What are they gonna cut? That’s the big question,” he said.

Biden accused Republicans who are part of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement started by former President Donald Trump of “trying to undo the Affordable Care Act,” also known as Obamacare, since it passed 13 years ago.

“They voted to change or repeal the act…more than 50 times in four years,” he said.

“If MAGA Republicans try to take away people’s healthcare by gutting Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, I will stop them,” he stressed.

Biden's remarks came as the White House is preparing to send the budget for the next fiscal year to Congress next week. US House Republicans insist that the Biden administration cut spending as part of a deal to raise the debt limit.