The biggest talking point for Republicans over the last eight years has been their opposition to the affordable care act, or Obamacare. After just over three months in the White House, Donald Trump is pushing the GOP to finally remove the current law on the books.
Trump on Obamacare
Just a year after former President Barack Obama was sworn into office, he signed the Affordable Care Act into law. Since then, Republicans have made it their number one priority to push back and smear Obama's signature piece of legislation. During the 2016 presidential election, each Republican candidate vowed to repeal and replace Obamacare, which included a strong push from Donald Trump.
The former host of "The Apprentice" made attacking Obamacare a cornerstone of his campaign, and he was able to rally angry Americans by his side, leading to a Republican primary victory, and later a general election win over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. While Trump promised to start the process of eliminating Obamacare on his first day in office, he's not been able to follow through. Trump's first attempt at health care reform was a failure, as his bill was met with backlash and was unable to gain enough support to even be put up for a vote. However, Republicans now say that they have enough support for their revised health care plan, which Trump decided to highlight during a May 4 Twitter rant.
Death spiral!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 4, 2017
'Aetna will exit Obamacare markets in VA in 2018, citing expected losses on INDV plans this year'https://t.co/5YnzDitF8r
Donald Trump spent the better part of Thursday morning on Twitter, ranting and raving about a variety of issues. In his latest tweet as of press time, the president linked to an article from CNBC that noted the insurance company Aetna would be leaving the Obamacare markets due to high costs.
"Death Spiral!" Trump tweeted out, in a short but to the point message on social media. Trump's tweet comes just hours after House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced that a vote on the bill in question would take place on Thursday.
The GOP's 7-year quest to repeal Obamacare faces its ultimate test as House votes on a bill that would dismantle it https://t.co/aNz6arpTjL pic.twitter.com/NFVFSLRn0B
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 4, 2017
Twitter reacts
In response to Donald Trump's tweet about Obamacare, social media users were quick to give their thoughts.
"If the GOP in its haste rams thru Trumpcare in the House today, the bill will still die under the more deliberative scrutiny of the Senate," actor George Takei wrote on Twitter.
If the GOP in its haste rams thru Trumpcare in the House today, the bill will still die under the more deliberative scrutiny of the Senate.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 4, 2017
@realDonaldTrump Why are you trying to pass #Trumpcare before the CBO scores the plan? Could it be that the plan isn't as good as you say it is?
— Rob Szczerba (@RJSzczerba) May 4, 2017
@realDonaldTrump And. AND! You've added a provision that will jack up prices for those NOT on ACA.
— Alex Zalben (@azalben) May 4, 2017
You're going to cost millions of Americans their lives.
@realDonaldTrump Go cut health care for 24 million people so you can give your golfing buddies tax cuts and see how that works out for you.
— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) May 4, 2017
@realDonaldTrump Postpartum Depression and C-Sections will now be considered pre-existing conditions?? You're a monster & need to be removed from office
— Jamie Grayson (@TheBabyGuyNYC) May 4, 2017
"Go cut health care for 24 million people so you can give your golfing buddies tax cuts and see how that works out for you," author Molly Knight tweeted out.
"You made a promise that people would be better off under #TrumpCare versus Obamacare ... would you like to make a bet?" CEO Rob Szczerba wrote. "You're going to remove healthcare for at least 24 million Americans so you can pad billionaires' pockets, you horrible monster," Alex Zalben wrote.