When it comes to the Democrats’ handling of illegal immigration and taxpayer money, few things are more consistent than the gaslighting — and nowhere was that clearer than during the so-called Schumer Shutdown. With military pay, food assistance, and essential services hanging in the balance, Democrats furiously denied that healthcare for illegal immigrants was on their list of demands.
“Period, full stop,” declared House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, insisting that no Democrat was seeking to funnel taxpayer funds into health insurance for illegal immigrants. The problem? That claim didn’t pass the smell test then — and it’s been blown to pieces now.
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
Fast-forward just a few months, and California Governor Gavin Newsom did what Democrats try desperately to avoid: he said the quiet part out loud.
Speaking proudly of his state’s aggressive policy, Newsom bragged that California is the first in the nation to provide taxpayer-funded healthcare to illegal immigrants. Not in theory. Not in future plans. But right now, with billions already allocated through Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, which is partially funded with federal dollars — that is, your tax dollars.
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
And yes, the money trail is real. A March report revealed that California had been exploiting a loophole in Medicaid rules that allows them to use provider taxes to cycle money back into the system — effectively subsidizing healthcare for noncitizens through a technical workaround. The federal government even caught them red-handed: an HHS Inspector General report from May 2024 found California had improperly claimed $52.7 million in Medicaid reimbursements for individuals with “unsatisfactory immigration status.” California paid the money back… after they were caught.
So let’s recap:
During the shutdown, Democrats denied this was even on the table.
Now, they’re bragging about it.
And not only is this hypocrisy politically toxic, it’s strategically foolish.
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
Because now, thanks to Newsom’s on-camera boasting, Republicans have the receipts — literal soundbites, headlines, audit reports, and IG findings that will flood the airwaves in 2026 and 2028. Every time a Democrat claims to support “lawful immigration reform” or says they’re against using taxpayer money for those in the country illegally, Republicans will hit play on this exact clip.
It won’t just haunt Newsom, who is almost certainly positioning himself for a 2028 presidential run. It will drag down vulnerable Democrats in red and purple districts already under fire for putting non-citizens ahead of struggling Americans.
“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
The American public is being asked to foot the bill while being told it’s not happening. But the truth is out now, and no amount of “full stop” proclamations from Jeffries can walk it back.
