Former Health Officials Fear Trump's Return to White House Will Harm Public Health

A group of 48 former top medical officials have penned a letter expressing concerns about Donald Trump's healthcare policies if he is re-elected president. They argue that Trump's past actions and statements indicate he would repeal the Affordable Care Act, cut funding to important healthcare programs, and restrict access to abortion.

Former health officials are warning that if Donald Trump is re-elected president, the nation's healthcare system could face dire consequences.

In a letter addressed to the American people and shared exclusively with Fox News Digital, a group of 48 former top medical officials, including six former presidents of the American Medical Association (AMA), expressed their concerns about Trump's potential healthcare policies.

"We write today as people who have dedicated our lives to helping people," the group wrote. "As former leaders of national health care and delivery organizations, we have come to understand how policy can impact public health and, just as importantly, the ability of American families to afford the healthcare they need."

They argue that Trump's "ambiguity" concerning healthcare policy makes it difficult to predict exactly what he would do if re-elected, but they can "surmise" based on his record in office and his remarks on the campaign trail.

"If he is elected president, Donald Trump will make our fears a reality," the group wrote. "The price of healthcare for American families under Trump would skyrocket, while millions would lose access to healthcare altogether."

The group's concerns stem from Trump's expressed desire to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which has provided health insurance to millions of Americans who were previously uninsured. They also worry that Trump would cut funding from the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), eliminate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and cut funding for veterans' health care.

"I am concerned that, based upon what I saw during the Trump presidency and what I have heard him say during the campaign, that returning Mr. Trump to the Oval Office could have real and negative effects on the health of our country," Dr. Andrew Gurman, former president of the AMA, told Fox News Digital ahead of the letter's release.

"I am concerned that millions might lose access to health care altogether, and that for the rest it might well become much more expensive," Gurman said. "I think that people need to hear those concerns, and that’s why I signed the letter."

Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler reacted to the letter by telling Fox News Digital "every chance Trump got while in office, he made it his mission to rip health care away from working families."

"Pushing to ‘terminate’ the Affordable Care Act is just the start for Trump if he’s re-elected. He’s now running to go even further. A second Trump presidency would mean the American people would risk getting sicker, going broke, both or worse with soaring prescription drug costs, the elimination of protections for patients with preexisting conditions and wins for Big Pharma at the expense of working families," Tyler said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Trump's campaign for comment, and a Trump spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, said the claims were false.

"These claims are outright lies," Leavitt said. "While President Trump is running to make less expensive healthcare options available for people without eliminating the Affordable Care Act, Joe Biden is destroying Obamacare and the entire healthcare system with his open borders invasion."

Leavitt also claimed that Biden is "giving free government healthcare to illegal aliens," which would lead to higher taxes and premiums for American citizens.

The Trump campaign's claims have been disputed by fact-checkers, who have pointed out that Biden has not proposed giving free government healthcare to illegal aliens.

The debate over Trump's healthcare policies is likely to continue in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.