Donald Trump today tore into Britain’s NHS – branding the UK’s system of universal healthcare ‘broke and not working’.
The US President sparked fury this side of the Atlantic by slamming into the great British institution.
He claimed that a major protest about the winter crisis in Britain’s hospitals in London at the weekend was a sign it is not a system the US should copy.
But Britons rallied to the defence of the NHS and hit back at his remark – branding it ‘fake news’.
Jeremy Hunt hit back on Twitter, saying: ‘I may disagree with claims made on that march but not ONE of them wants to live in a system where 28m people have no cover.
‘NHS may have challenges but I’m proud to be from the country that invented universal coverage – where all get care no matter the size of their bank balance.’
Donald Trump (pictured with his wife Melania at a golf club in Florida yesterday) today tore into Britain’s NHS – branding the UK’s system of universal healthcare ‘broke and not working’
He claimed that a major protest about the winter crisis in Britain’s hospitals in London at the weekend was a sign it is not a system the US should copy.
Labour MP John Woodcock told Mail Online: ‘Once again we are seeing from this shameful excuse of a President is him criticising an institution that makes Britain great.
‘It is increasingly clear hat the only thing he can do to restore dignity to his office and the country he is diminishing is to resign.’
A Government source told MailOnline the ‘country is united’ behind the NHS.
Mr Trump’s comments come amid an angry political row in the United States over healthcare reform.
Lib Dem leader Vince Cable said Mr Trump did not ‘understand’ the NHS – and offered to give him a briefing on how it worked.
Sir Vince said: ‘It is not broken, it is under enormous pressure.
‘If he wants to understand how the system works in Britain and wants some solutions he should read out report.’
He added: ‘He obviously doesn’t understand it.’
He wrote on Twitter: ‘The Democrats are pushing for Universal HealthCare while thousands of people are marching in the UK because their U system is going broke and not working.
‘Dems want to greatly raise taxes for really bad and non-personal medical care. No thanks!’.
Britons quickly took to Twitter hit out at Mr Trump, who they said was peddling’ fake news’ and fundamentally misunderstanding the protests on Saturday.
Stephen Doughty, Labour MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, said on Twitter: ‘Now Trump @realDonaldTrump exposing again his utter ignorance about Britain – this time on our proud NHS – exactly the opposite to what he’s doing in the US.’
Adam wrote on Twitter: ‘When Donald Trump promoted fake new – people are marching for the NHS to be kept. To stop privatisation and underfunding from our Government.’
Mr Trump has vowed to roll back healthcare provision to slash insurance bills, but the Democrats have warned this would leave millions of Americans with little or no free healthcare provision.
Lib Dem leader Vince Cable tweeted a sarcastic response to the US President’s attack on the NHS
Labour MP slammed Donald Trump over the comment which he said showed the President’s ignorance
Campaigners are marching on Downing Street on Saturday calling for the Government to properly fund the National Health Service
Britons took to Twitter to vent their fury at Mr Trump – and say he fundamentally misunderstood the protest on Saturday
His outspoken intervention comes after thousands of campaigners marched on Downing Street on Saturday calling for the Government to properly fund the National Health Service.
Protesters braved the wintry weather to demand an end to the winter NHS crisis as hospitals are overwhelmed with thousands left in corridors waiting hours for treatment.
They called for the Government to put more money into the NHS, which experts warn is dangerously overstretched.
Many politicians have called for a new tax to be introduced to raise money specifically for the NHS so hospitals have a reliable bank balance they can draw from.
They say this will stop the health service lurching from one winter crisis to another.
Mr Trump’s remarks come as relations between the White House and Theresa May’s No10 are strained after the President retweeted anti-Muslim propaganda by a far-right group.