Democrats have repeatedly insisted that they did not shut the government down over a demand for healthcare for illegal aliens, and several of them have expressed their displeasure at the media outlets willing to call them out on that lie.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) got testy with “CBS Mornings” host Tony Dokoupil on Thursday, claiming that it wasn’t “strictly true” when he challenged her directly on the issue.
“So, Senator, you know, Republicans say what you’re really fighting for is taxpayer dollars for, as they put it, illegal aliens. I know that’s not strictly true but there is a provision –” Dokoupil began.
“Oh, excuse me, not strictly true,” Warren’s protest was immediate.
“It’s not directly true, but –” Dokoupil tried again.
“It is a flat-out lie. It is a flat-out lie,” Warren insisted. “There is nothing in Medicaid, nothing in Medicare, that permits one undocumented immigrant to get one dollar of assistance. None.”
“Sorry, in the Democratic counteroffer the proposal for funding, there is a restoration of Medicaid benefits for certain noncitizens that had been taken away in the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill,’ as Republicans put it,” Dokoupil pushed back.
WATCH: Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren explodes when ‘CBS Mornings’ co-host Tony Dokoupil points out Democrats do, in fact, want to provide health care to “noncitizens…on the taxpayer dime.”
Warren snapped back by declaring “it’s not strictly true” and “a flat-out lie”….… pic.twitter.com/fOSqgcSdUI
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 2, 2025
On CNN, a very similar scene played out between anchor Jake Tapper and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
“Here’s a provision … it shows you want to give illegal aliens healthcare,” Tapper noted.
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“It’s a lie!” Jeffries protested.
“It’s a lie — but, what you support does bring back funding for emergency Medicaid to hospitals, which pays for undocumented immigrants … and a provision for people seeking asylum and ‘temporary protected status,’ noncitizens … why even include that?” Tapper asked.
🚨 HOLY CRAP! Hakeem Jeffries REGRETS going on CNN, Jake Tapper just embarrassed him. pic.twitter.com/KmdS9gMxJN
TAPPER: Here’s a provision…it shows you want to give illegal aliens healthcare…
JEFFRIES: It’s a lie!
TAPPER: It’s a lie – BUT, what you support DOES bring back…
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 1, 2025
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) attempted to claim that she’d never heard anyone in her party calling for providing healthcare for illegals — and Fox News host Lawrence Jones responded with video evidence of members of her party doing exactly that.
“I haven’t heard anybody in my party saying illegal immigrants should get access to the health insurance marketplace,” she said.
Jones showed a clip of Democrats on the 2020 debate stage, and then replied, “That’s literally every member of your party from moderate to more progressive that have said that in the past.”
Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen: I haven’t heard anybody in my party saying illegals should get taxpayer-funded health care!
*ROLLS THE TAPE*
Fox: “That’s literally every member of your party from moderate to more progressive…” pic.twitter.com/ziu6pMhLKO
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 2, 2025
Republicans shared the receipts in a post to X, highlighting the relevant portion of the resolution: “It’s right there on paper. Democrats are fighting for healthcare for illegal aliens, NOT the American people.”
It’s right there on paper.
Democrats are fighting for healthcare for illegal aliens, NOT the American people. https://t.co/HIRQyu9lZK pic.twitter.com/qaj4KGzBIj
— GOP (@GOP) October 2, 2025
And it’s not a new position, either. Several people posted videos and still photos from one of the 2020 Democratic primary debates, when every Democrat on the stage raised a hand to confirm that all of their healthcare plans would include coverage for “undocumented immigrants.”
The question was:
Raise your hand if your healthcare plan covers illegal immigrants. pic.twitter.com/xS4WYIZCo5
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) October 2, 2025
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