Trump Falsely Claims Doctor Senator Was Legally Obligated to Sue Patients
Former President Donald Trump defended Sen. Roger Marshall by stating that Marshall was required by law to sue patients for unpaid medical bills, a claim fact-checked as false.
President Donald Trump falsely claimed at a rally in Kansas that GOP Sen. Roger Marshall, who is a doctor, was legally obligated to sue patients for unpaid medical bills. Trump asserted that Marshall received a "bum rap" and was mandated by law to pursue payment, even suggesting that failing to do so would constitute a criminal offense.
Trump’s defense came as Marshall faces a competitive reelection campaign. The senator's medical billing practices drew scrutiny after The New York Times reported he had sued over 700 patients for unpaid debts, with dozens arrested for missing court dates. Experts indicated that such aggressive debt collection tactics are uncommon.
Media outlets, including The Kansas City Star and The Hill, have previously pushed back against similar claims made by Trump regarding mandatory lawsuits for unpaid medical debt, stating that no federal or state law requires doctors to sue patients for outstanding bills. The Star also noted there is no law requiring debt collectors to seek arrest warrants for defendants who do not appear in court.
Trump's remarks also drew criticism for using the term "Shylock," a reference to the villainous Jewish lender in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice," which is considered an antisemitic slur and has been used by Trump previously.