By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-trump-participates-in-rural-health-roundtable Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Trump blames Democrats for rural health care struggles at roundtable event Politics Updated on Jan 16, 2026 3:07 PM EST — Published on Jan 16, 2026 9:59 AM EST President Donald Trump used a White House rural health care event Friday talk to take swipes at former President Barack Obama and Democrats. Watch the event in the video player above. The president quickly turned his rural health care forum into a grievance session against Democrats and a bragging session on the votes he's gotten in rural America. "I'm all about the rural community. … We're taking care of those great people," he said, arguing that Obama "didn't care about the rural community, to be totally blunt." "The Democrats are so horrible toward the rural community," Trump added. He asked voters to "remember ... in the midterms" that Democrats did not back his "Big Beautiful Bill" that included $10 billion for rural healthcare this year. READ MORE: What experts think of the $50 billion rural health fund in Trump's big bill Trump effectively blamed Obama's "Un-Affordable Care Act" for rural hospital closures and financial struggles. In truth, KFF has found that rural hospitals closed at a higher rate in states that did not expand Medicaid under Democrats' 2010 health care overhaul than in states that did expand to take in more federal money. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. While claiming corrupt politicians in several Democratic run states led to fraud — California, Minnesota and New Mexico by name — Trump also said that health care could be "a Republican issue" in the midterms. He's pushing for bipartisan support for the GOP proposal to replace expanded Affordable Care Act premium subsidies with individual health savings accounts. Trump said he hopes to get votes from Democrats but said Republicans can own the issue without them. WATCH: What to know about the GOP proposal to steer money into health savings accounts Recent AP-NORC polls have shown why Trump is concerned. Approval of Trump's handling of health care was 34% in November. It slipped to 29% in December. Most of the decrease came from Republicans. In November, 68% of Republicans had a positive view of Trump's handling of health care. In December, while still a majority, it was down to 59%. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
President Donald Trump used a White House rural health care event Friday talk to take swipes at former President Barack Obama and Democrats. Watch the event in the video player above. The president quickly turned his rural health care forum into a grievance session against Democrats and a bragging session on the votes he's gotten in rural America. "I'm all about the rural community. … We're taking care of those great people," he said, arguing that Obama "didn't care about the rural community, to be totally blunt." "The Democrats are so horrible toward the rural community," Trump added. He asked voters to "remember ... in the midterms" that Democrats did not back his "Big Beautiful Bill" that included $10 billion for rural healthcare this year. READ MORE: What experts think of the $50 billion rural health fund in Trump's big bill Trump effectively blamed Obama's "Un-Affordable Care Act" for rural hospital closures and financial struggles. In truth, KFF has found that rural hospitals closed at a higher rate in states that did not expand Medicaid under Democrats' 2010 health care overhaul than in states that did expand to take in more federal money. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. While claiming corrupt politicians in several Democratic run states led to fraud — California, Minnesota and New Mexico by name — Trump also said that health care could be "a Republican issue" in the midterms. He's pushing for bipartisan support for the GOP proposal to replace expanded Affordable Care Act premium subsidies with individual health savings accounts. Trump said he hopes to get votes from Democrats but said Republicans can own the issue without them. WATCH: What to know about the GOP proposal to steer money into health savings accounts Recent AP-NORC polls have shown why Trump is concerned. Approval of Trump's handling of health care was 34% in November. It slipped to 29% in December. Most of the decrease came from Republicans. In November, 68% of Republicans had a positive view of Trump's handling of health care. In December, while still a majority, it was down to 59%. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now