Senator Jon Ossoff, speaking at a rally in Augusta, Georgia on April 18, 2026, criticized President Donald Trump’s proposed military budget and accused the administration of prioritizing defense spending over domestic programs. His remarks focused on a reported $1.5 trillion Pentagon funding request, which Ossoff argued came at the expense of social services, while also attacking the president’s personal history with military service.
Ossoff stated, “And then did you hear what this man said two weeks ago? Quote, ‘It’s not possible.’ The president said, ‘For us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, or Medicare.’ He said, ‘We can only afford to fund war.’ Then released a budget demanding 1.5 trillion for the Pentagon next year alone, paid for by ending utility assistance for families, cancelling affordable housing programs, and cutting cancer research. All to fund a huge increase for the military-industrial complex because draft dodging Donald loves sending other people’s children to war.”
Ossoff: Did you hear what this man said two weeks ago? The president said, “It’s not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, or Medicare. We can only afford to fund war.” Then he released a budget—$1.5 trillion for the Pentagon… because draft-dodging Donald loves… pic.twitter.com/GptqQF6WDS
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 18, 2026
His comments referenced reporting on the administration’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, which outlined roughly $1.5 trillion in defense spending, described in analyses as the largest military budget in modern U.S. history. The proposal was paired with significant cuts to domestic programs, including housing, health, energy assistance, and environmental initiatives, as part of a broader effort to shift federal spending priorities toward defense and immigration enforcement.
Ossoff also invoked Trump’s Vietnam-era draft record, noting that the president received multiple deferments during the war. According to reporting, Trump obtained four college deferments and a fifth medical deferment for bone spurs, allowing him to avoid military service during the Vietnam War era. The senator used this history to contrast Trump’s personal military record with his administration’s emphasis on expanded defense funding.
Framing his broader argument, Ossoff said the proposed budget reflected misplaced national priorities, linking increased military spending to reductions in domestic programs that support health care, housing, and social services. His remarks came amid ongoing debate in Congress over federal spending levels during the United States’ continuing military engagement abroad.