WATCH: Sen. Josh Hawley on his opposition to Medicaid cuts

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley appeared on CNN on Wednesday to discuss his opposition to Medicaid cuts.

Hawley, a Republican, has defied party leadership by opposing Medicaid cuts proposed by President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson. The House has been working on the budget plan this week.

"My state is a Medicaid expansion state," Hawley told CNN host Manu Raju. "Over 20% of Missourians, including hundreds of thousands of children, are on Medicaid, and they're not on Medicaid because they want to be. They're on Medicaid because they can't afford health insurance in the private market.

"These are working people and their children who need health care, and it's just wrong to go and cut their health care when they're trying to make ends meet, trying to help their kids, trying to make sure that they're able to provide for their families. So I hope that the House GOP and the Senate GOP will get the message here."

Watch the interview in the media player.