Last Friday, the Republican alternative to the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, failed to gain enough support from conservative lawmakers that Donald Trump decided to pull the bill before a vote could even take place. After it became clear that the right-wing Freedom Caucus were the ones holding the bill up from passing onto the Senate, the president made it clear that he wasn't happy.
Trump vs GOP
After nearly eight years of non-stop opposition to Obamacare, Republicans finally had a realistic shot at repealing the law and putting their own version in its place.
With Donald Trump in the White House, and Republicans in majority-control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, it seemed as if it was only a matter of time before Obamacare was history. However, while it was expected that Democrats would speak out against the GOP plan, dozens of conservatives were not willing to support the bill, referring to it as "Obamacare lite." Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan did their best to convince enough congressional Republicans to switch their "No" to a "Yes," but it was not to be. In response, Trump returned to Twitter on March 27 to hit back at the House Freedom Caucus.
The Republican House Freedom Caucus was able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. After so many bad years they were ready for a win!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2017
In his second round of tweets on Monday night, Donald Trump went back to his criticism of the House Freedom Caucus, which only further highlights the divide in the Republican Party.
"The Republican House Freedom Caucus was able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory," Trump wrote on Twitter, while adding, "After so many bad years they were ready for a win!" In a follow-up tweet, the billionaire real estate mogul promised that he would be able to reach a deal on health care with the Democrats without the help of other Republicans.
The Democrats will make a deal with me on healthcare as soon as ObamaCare folds - not long. Do not worry, we are in very good shape!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2017
Trump's blame game
In addition to blaming the far right-wing Freedom Caucus, Donald Trump has also publicly hit back at Democrats for not being willing to come together and compromise on health care.
Additional reports claim that the former host of "The Apprentice" is also blaming Paul Ryan and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus for being unable to get enough Republicans behind the bill to ensure that it would make it out of the House, into the Senate, and onto his desk for a signature.
