Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Why Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence MORE (I-Vt.) on Tuesday blasted President Trump's proposed cuts to Medicaid as "just cruel," casting his budget plan as a campaign promise broken by the president.

"Trump promised during the campaign that he would not cut Medicaid. Now he's trying to slash it in half. That is just cruel," Sanders wrote on Twitter.

Trump promised during the campaign that he would not cut Medicaid. Now he's trying to slash it in half. That is just cruel. pic.twitter.com/TVzpAmkCgw — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) May 23, 2017

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The White House on Tuesday unveiled a 2018 spending proposal that lays out a strategy for balancing the budget over 10 years. The plan largely takes aim at government programs that provide assistance to low-income and poverty-stricken Americans, including Medicaid and food assistance.

As a presidential candidate, Trump vowed to "save" social programs such as Medicare and Medicaid without cutting their budgets.

"Save Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security without cuts," Trump said at a 2015 campaign rally. "Have to do it. Get rid of the fraud, get rid of the waste and abuse, but save it."

Trump's 2018 budget would transition Medicaid from a traditional entitlement program to a block grant or per capita grant to states, ultimately cutting the program by $610 billion over 10 years. It also hinges on the enactment of the American Health Care Act, which would cut $839 billion from Medicaid.

Sanders has long advocated for a single-payer healthcare system.