The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week focused on nominating Donald Trump as the party’s 2024 presidential candidate, with little attention given to health care issues in the prime-time speeches. This silence is notable considering that health care is the largest portion of the federal budget, accounting for nearly $2 trillion and 17% of the U.S. economic output.
The shift in focus from previous conventions, where topics like repealing the Affordable Care Act and overturning Roe v. Wade were prominent, reflects Trump’s political sensitivities. The GOP’s failed attempt to repeal Obamacare in 2017 resulted in a significant defeat in the 2018 congressional elections, and public support for the law has since grown. Similarly, the issue of abortion has become complicated for Republicans following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, as most Americans are against a national ban on abortion.
In the GOP’s 2024 platform, Trump pledged not to cut Social Security or Medicare, the health program for older and disabled Americans, and promised to protect Medicare while seeking cures for Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. However, he did not provide any specific health care proposals for a potential second term.
According to Charles Coughlin, CEO of a Phoenix public affairs firm and former GOP political operative, health care is not a winning subject for Republicans. Instead, speakers at the convention focused on issues like inflation, crime, and immigration, which have been identified as winning topics based on polling data.
Immigration has been linked to some health issues, such as the U.S. opioid crisis and public insurance coverage. Some Republicans, including U.S. House Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, have claimed that an increase in people crossing the southern border has led to a rise in drug overdoses and deaths. However, research from organizations like the Cato Institute and the U.S. Sentencing Commission suggests that most fentanyl trafficking occurs through legal ports of entry and involves American citizens.
During the convention, U.S. House Rep. Monica De La Cruz of Texas alleged that Democratic policies allow unauthorized immigrants to receive government benefits, including federal health programs. She also claimed that the Biden administration had cut Medicare Advantage for seniors, although spending on these private plans still exceeds that of traditional Medicare.
The lack of focus on health care issues at the convention is reflective of the new GOP platform, which closely aligns with Trump’s views. The platform includes promises to protect Medicare, expand veterans’ health care choices, and increase access to affordable health care and prescription drug options without providing detailed plans.
In contrast, the 2016 platform called for significant changes to federal Medicaid funding, Medicare spending, medical malpractice lawsuits, and drug abuse prevention. The word “abortion” appeared frequently in the 2016 platform but is mentioned only once in the 2024 document, signaling a shift in the party’s stance on the issue.
One notable development during the convention was the release of a video showing a conversation between independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Trump, in which Trump made unfounded claims about childhood vaccines. Trump’s history of entertaining vaccine skeptics contrasts with his administration’s efforts to develop COVID-19 vaccines through the Operation Warp Speed program.
Since the start of the pandemic, vaccine skepticism has grown within the Republican Party, with a significant portion expressing doubts about the safety and efficacy of COVID vaccines. This trend highlights the evolving views within the GOP on public health issues.
Overall, the Republican National Convention in 2024 showcased a shift in priorities away from traditional health care topics like Obamacare and abortion, focusing instead on issues like inflation, crime, and immigration. The party’s platform reflects Trump’s views and promises to protect Medicare while expanding health care choices for veterans and the general population.
