Trump’s latest health care strategy: Let Obamacare fail

WASHINGTON — The morning after Republican efforts to overhaul health care collapsed on Capitol Hill, President Trump said Tuesday he now wants to wait until the problems of the current law force a demand for change.

“As I have always said, let ObamaCare fail and then come together and do a great healthcare plan. Stay tuned!” Trump tweeted.

As I have always said, let ObamaCare fail and then come together and do a great healthcare plan. Stay tuned!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2017

Trump has not “always” endorsed such a strategy and has instead backed a variety of ways to address the health care issue. As late as Monday night, he endorsed a simple repeal of the law President Obama signed in 2010.

At nearly the same time, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced he was pulling a Trump-backed plan to repeal and replace the Obama health care law. The reason: Republican senators Mike Lee of Utah and Jerry Moran of Kansas said earlier in the evening they would oppose the plan, leaving the party well short of majority support.

The decision appeared to take the White House by surprise. As McConnell made his announcement, Trump was wrapping up a dinner at the White House with a group of Republican senators to discuss health care strategy.

During his morning tweetstorm, Trump generally blamed the other party: “We were let down by all of the Democrats and a few Republicans. Most Republicans were loyal, terrific worked really hard. We will return!”

We were let down by all of the Democrats and a few Republicans. Most Republicans were loyal, terrific worked really hard. We will return!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2017

Democrats and estimates from the Congressional Budget Office said alternative Republicans plans would have cut off millions from health insurance because of higher costs. They also said the GOP efforts to repeal Obamacare essentially sabotaged the legislation by creating uncertainty among insurers.

Over the course of the debate, some Republicans said Trump himself sent mixed messages. He backed a House health care plan over intense opposition in March, only to describe it later as “too mean” in a meeting with Senate Republicans, whom he urged to make changes.

Trump also, at times, suggested letting the existing law stay in place, predicting it would “collapse” and generate demand for change — a tactic he re-adopted after McConnell pulled the Republican bill late Monday night.

Even as McConnell made his move, Trump tweeted yet another strategy Monday night: A straight repeal of the existing health care law.

Said the president then: “Republicans should just REPEAL failing ObamaCare now work on a new Healthcare Plan that will start from a clean slate. Dems will join in!”

Republicans should just REPEAL failing ObamaCare now work on a new Healthcare Plan that will start from a clean slate. Dems will join in!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2017

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