Melania Trump is facing harsh criticism after making a rare public appearance Thursday at a Washington, D.C. children’s hospital—just as her husband’s administration pushes through sweeping Medicaid cuts that could strip health coverage from millions.
The First Lady visited Children’s National Hospital, spending time with sick children, handing out gifts, and making Fourth of July-themed crafts. During her visit, she encouraged the kids, saying, “It’s a very special day. So we will have a big party at the White House… When you feel better, maybe next year, you come over and we’ll celebrate together.”
While the moment may have appeared heartwarming, it quickly drew backlash on social media and beyond, with many calling the visit a calculated distraction from the damage caused by Donald Trump’s newly passed “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” The legislation, which cleared the House the same day as Melania’s hospital visit, includes more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)—jeopardizing healthcare for an estimated 11.8 million Americans, including children.
Melania shared photos and reflections from the hospital visit on Instagram, writing:
“The children and families at @childrensnational show incredible courage and resilience every day. I was grateful to share time with them ahead of Independence Day and express gratitude to the dedicated doctors and nurses who care for them with such compassion.”
Critics were swift to call out what they viewed as hypocrisy.
“This is an absolutely disgusting publicity stunt after y’all tore healthcare away from millions of families,” one commenter wrote. “Shame, shame, shaaaaaammmmeeee FLOTUS.”
Another added, “How many of those kids are about to lose their healthcare? What an obtuse and offensive post. Just WOW.”
“Your administration is cutting Medicaid, reversing vaccines, gutting research,” another user said. “This is shameful.”
The Trump-backed legislation includes policy changes that will make it harder for low-income families to qualify for or maintain Medicaid coverage. States will be required to verify income every six months—a hurdle that often causes transient or homeless individuals to fall through the cracks.
When Texas implemented similar measures between 2014 and 2019, thousands of children lost coverage—contributing to the state having the highest uninsured child rate in the nation.
The GOP plan will also allow states to:
- Delay children’s enrollment in CHIP under certain conditions
- Temporarily block coverage if parents are behind on premiums, which can be as high as $100/month in some states
- Reintroduce waiting periods for children switching from private insurance to public coverage
The Biden administration had previously outlawed many of these restrictions. Additionally, the new law narrows who qualifies for reduced-cost Obamacare plans—potentially denying coverage to thousands of refugees and asylum seekers annually.
As the fallout from the healthcare cuts continues, Melania’s visit is being widely panned as out-of-touch, with critics questioning the sincerity of showing compassion to sick children while her husband’s policies threaten their access to care.
