A Republican lawmaker sparked criticism after slipping up during a Fox News appearance and referring to proposed GOP changes to Medicaid as "cuts" before quickly correcting himself to say "reforms."
On Thursday, Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) appeared on "The Will Cain Show" to discuss GOP spending priorities, including the controversial cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction. While responding to a question, Smith accidentally said "Medicaid cuts" before quickly correcting himself to "Medicaid reforms."
Rep. Jason Smith: "And then you can look at Medicaid cuts -- Medicaid reforms, I should say."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 15, 2025
Oops. pic.twitter.com/QphPNRXi0O
House Republicans have introduced a spending bill that includes sweeping changes to Medicaid, despite long-standing assurances from party leaders, including President Donald Trump, that the program would be protected.
The moment, widely shared on social media, contradicted repeated GOP messaging and ignited backlash across the political spectrum, with some saying "the truth slipped out."
Whoopsie. Truth slipped out for a minute
— Paca Whisperer aka Jayme (@SageHillfarms) May 15, 2025
Nope. You told the truth pic.twitter.com/bnZOxQc2z7
— Perry Harrison (@PerryHQuattro) May 15, 2025
"He said the quiet part out loud," one user declared, while another questioned if it could have been a "Freudian slip."
He said the quiet part out loud.
— SharonS (@dancemom128) May 15, 2025
Freudian slip?
— Kale (@rg_kale) May 15, 2025
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