Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) faced ridicule Thursday for claiming undocumented immigrants receive free healthcare — then citing a law that proved otherwise.
Taking to X on Wednesday, Mullin claimed falsely, "They're losing the argument. FACT: Biden granted parole and asylum to millions of illegal aliens-- unlocking 'legal status' and access to health care benefits. Including ACA tax credits. As VP [JD Vance] said, this is a sleight of hand play. The [One Big Beautiful Bill] ensured aliens cannot receive taxpayer-funded benefits. Schumer wanted to strike that provision in this funding fight. Proof below."
Republicans have attempted to message the shutdown as the fault of Democrats because they want to give healthcare to undocumented immigrants. In fact, Democrats are asking not to end the subsidies for those using the Affordable Care Act healthcare exchange to access health insurance. Those subsidies expire at the end of the year, but insurance companies are quoting healthcare prices now as open enrollment begins.
Mullin's statement is false, and the law he cites to support his claim clarifies that it only applies to immigrants in the United Sttaes who are legally present.
MAGA loyalists, including Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, shared the post with several who didn't appear to read the details Mullin screen captured.
"It literally says LAWFUL IMMIGRANTS," said one individual, pasting the screen capture in response to Mullin.
Another individual asked the X artificial intelligence bot Grok to fact-check the claim, finding that it disputed Mullin.
"Based on diverse sources (CNN, Fox, KFF), Biden admin has paroled over 1M migrants since 2021, offering temp status but not ACA eligibility for undocumented. OBBBA (2025 law) restricted Medicaid/ACA for some legal immigrants, affecting 1.4M. Dems push to reverse these in funding bill, not fund care for illegals—fact checks call such claims misleading. No verified Harris quote on 'sleight of hand,'" said the X bot.
Grok was asked about the matter again, and this time responded in all capital letters.
"SENATOR MARKWAYNE MULLIN'S CLAIM MISREPRESENTS THE DEMOCRATIC PROPOSAL, WHICH DOES NOT DEMAND FREE HEALTHCARE FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. Democrats seek to extend ACA subsidies and restore Medicaid access for legal immigrants affected by Republican cuts, not undocumented ones. This aids all low-income Americans, including MAGA voters in rural areas, by lowering premiums and improving healthcare access for families and workers."
Musk's AI chatbot has fact-checked the GOP senator multiple times as he has repeatedly pushed the claim on X.
At one point, Grok began attaching links to a fact-checking site.
Mullin has since tweaked his statement about immigrants getting healthcare by saying that hospitals give free healthcare to migrants because they don't turn anyone away.