Democrats respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech, in which he said a Democratic plan to expand government-funded health insurance amounted to a "socialist takeover".
Democrats rebuke Trump's SOTU healthcare comments
"We will always protect patients with pre-existing conditions," Trump said in his speech.
"Really?
How gullible do you think the American people are?" asked Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, in a televised response to Trump's speech.
Democratic presidential candidates and many lawmakers have proposed healthcare plans that would be run by the government, a sharp departure from the current, private system in which millions of Americans receive medical insurance from their employers.
Trump's lack of a healthcare plan has left him open to criticism that he has not put enough work into finding a way to reduce rising insurance costs that burden middle-class Americans.
"We will never let socialism destroy American healthcare!" Trump said.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in her televised response: "Democrats are trying to make your healthcare better.
Republicans in Washington are trying to take it away."