The battle over the Affordable Care Act is intensifying as year-end deadlines threaten to raise premiums for millions unless Republicans act. In a Politico interview, President Trump dismissed concerns as “dramatic” and later urged reporters not to make the difficult choices “sound so bad.” The White House briefly considered a plan to blunt the impact but abandoned it after congressional Republicans balked. Critics say the president's response has been indifferent at a critical moment.
Millions Could See Health Insurance Hikes as Deadlines Loom — Trump Shrugs
With firm deadlines fast approaching, the political battle over the Affordable Care Act has sharpened: tens of millions of Americans could face substantially higher health insurance premiums unless Republican leaders secure a solution. Without a breakthrough, many families will soon be forced to choose between paying dramatically more for coverage or going without.
What Happened
In a recent interview with Politico reporter Dasha Burns, President Donald Trump cut off the conversation about rising premiums, telling Burns,
“Look, don’t be dramatic.”Four days later, when asked what he would tell the roughly 24 million Americans who could see their insurance costs rise when extended subsidies expire at year-end, he replied,
“Don’t make it sound so bad.”
Why It Matters
Those comments came as many households are already squeezing budgets for essentials, including health coverage. Experts warn that, if extended cost-sharing and premium subsidies are not replaced or extended by lawmakers, some consumers could see premiums and out-of-pocket costs double or triple depending on their situation and market.
U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a roundtable discussion with farmers in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Dec. 8, 2025 in Washington, D.C.(Getty Images)
White House And Congressional Response
Administration officials briefly prepared a plan intended to blunt the impact of the subsidy expiration, but the proposal was withdrawn after congressional Republicans objected. GOP leaders on Capitol Hill have spent recent weeks looking to the White House for guidance; the administration's response has largely been described by lawmakers as a shrug.
Tone And Criticism
Critics say the president's dismissive language was strikingly lacking in empathy given the stakes for families facing higher health care bills. Supporters of the administration argue that broader reforms or market-based fixes are the preferred long-term solution, but those options face steep political and procedural hurdles—and little time.
Bottom line: With deadlines approaching and limited political consensus, Americans who rely on ACA marketplaces face uncertain and potentially costly choices.
This post updates earlier coverage.
