President Donald Trump announced his budget request for 2021 on Monday, and people—especially Democrats—weren't exactly excited for it.
Democratic lawmakers heavily criticized the new cuts, especially drastic slashes to Medicaid, Medicare, and social security funds by billions of dollars—a reversal of Trump's previous promises not to touch them. The budget also cuts programs for food, housing, and other public good programs.
The budget also increases defense spending, as well as funds for the President's long-sought wall at the southern border.
In a speech to governors on Monday morning, Trump actually told the truth about his budget—however accidentally.
Watch below.
Touting his upcoming budget proposal, Trump says, "We're doing a lot of things that are good including waste and fraud. Tremendous waste and tremendous fraud." pic.twitter.com/nQbTNJPbFG
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) February 10, 2020
Trump said:
"We're doing a lot of things that are good including waste and fraud. Tremendous waste and tremendous fraud."
Trump likely meant the budget targets waste and fraud (though it's unclear how), but his slip of the tongue is proving to be more correct.
The Pentagon asked for around $705 billion—$13 billion less than the current fiscal year. Nevertheless, Trump's budget allocates $745 billion for defense, despite the United States having more money for defense than the next 26 countries combined (25 of those countries are our allies).
Meanwhile, student loan relief programs and other efforts designed to help Americans are taking a hit.
People agreed with Trump about the waste and fraud.
THIS JUST IN --- Donald Trump just told the Truth!!! https://t.co/1HReQM50EG
— (((Al 🅖🅓🅐🅓➊))) (@Gdad1) February 10, 2020
For once he speaks the truth https://t.co/hHwWTGYSw5
— DCampbell (@DCampbell212) February 11, 2020
I mean, at least he's being honest about it at this point...? https://t.co/DDlFXVCytH
— Ashlee Explains It All (@ash_says_what) February 10, 2020
I don't think that means what he thinks it means. https://t.co/JjiGg9yDUI
— SumMeUpIn21Characters (@bapop) February 11, 2020
Finally the boy tells the truth. https://t.co/kSkTl4q9mi
— Charlie French (@RoyRolling) February 10, 2020
Screw Freud! The Trumpian slip is DEFINITELY my favourite! https://t.co/WmSwyawWm6
— Irritated llama (@Irritatedllama) February 10, 2020
Democrats in the House of Representatives are expected to reject this iteration of the 2021 budget.
You can purchase A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump's Testing of America by Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig here.