Fact Check: Did Donald Trump Say, “You’re going to be thrown into a system where everyone gets healthcare”?
Claim:
Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that if Democrats win, citizens would be “thrown into a system where everyone gets healthcare.”
Rating: Correctly Attributed
Context
This statement resurfaced on social media in October ahead of the midterm elections, though Trump originally delivered the remarks months prior to the 2024 presidential election. In his full address, he was criticizing his Democratic opponent, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, arguing that her past policy positions favored dismantling private health insurance in favor of a government-managed alternative.
Background
Clips and quotes of the statement spread widely across platforms like Facebook, Threads, and X (formerly Twitter), leading many to question its authenticity.
The quote is genuine. Trump did indeed state that a Democratic victory would result in people being “thrown into a system where everybody gets healthcare” (using “everybody” instead of “everyone”). He delivered the speech months before the 2024 election while encouraging voters to reject Harris. Because the quote is authentic and properly credited, it is rated as correctly attributed.
However, social media posts frequently omitted the surrounding context. Trump was specifically warning about past comments made by Harris—most notably during a June 2019 presidential primary debate—where she initially indicated support for eliminating private health insurance to implement a government-run program. (Harris later walked back that statement, explaining that she had misheard the question).
When asked whether the administration still believed future Democratic candidates would target private insurance, a White House spokesperson responded by highlighting Trump’s healthcare record, stating that his administration had successfully lowered costs and expanded choices for Americans.
The Full Remarks
Trump made the “everybody gets healthcare” comment during an August 15, 2024, press conference focused on the economy at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where his lectern was surrounded by displays highlighting rising household costs.
Referring to Harris, Trump told the audience:
“She cosponsored legislation to abolish very popular private health insurance, which 150 [million] Americans rely on, dumping everyone onto inferior socialist government-run healthcare systems with rationing and deadly wait times while massively raising your taxes.
She wants to take away your private healthcare. There are many people in this country who spend a lot of money on private healthcare. It’s the best healthcare in the world, by the way. But they want to do it. They worked hard to make money. And they want to do it. Under her, you’re not going to have private healthcare plans anymore.
And you can be a wealthy person or a middle-income person, and you want to spend on a really good plan, better than a government plan could be, far better, and you’re not going to be allowed. You’re all going to be thrown into a communist system. It’s a communist system. You’re going to be thrown into a system where everybody gets healthcare. It’s, you wait for your doctor like 10 months, 12 months, 11 months. You gotta see some of these plans, how they work in other countries, it’s disgraceful. So, private healthcare is gone, she wants it out.”
Sources
- Chiacu, Doina. “U.S. Democrat Harris Clarifies: She Won’t Ban Private Health Insurance.” Reuters, 28 June 2019.
- “Democratic Presidential Debate – June 27 (Full).” NBC News, YouTube, 27 June 2019.
- “Former President Donald Trump Full Press Conference on the Economy.” WFAA, YouTube, 15 Aug. 2024.
- “Full Transcript: 2019 Democratic Debate Night Two.” NBC News, 28 June 2019.
- “Press Conference: Donald Trump Speaks to Reporters in Bedminster, New Jersey.” RollCall.com, 15 Aug. 2024.
- Segers, Grace. “Harris Clarifies Debate Answer on Eliminating Private Insurance.” CBS News, 28 June 2019.