James Antle reports for the Washington Examiner on President Trump’s efforts to lead the fight against the Affordable Care Act.
For the second time in a week, President Trump met Tuesday with “Obamacare victims” to highlight the plights of those whose healthcare arrangements were worsened by the law Republicans have long vowed to repeal and replace.
It’s an example of Trump trying to take a leadership role on Obamacare as the rest of the Republican legislative agenda stalls despite unified GOP control of the federal government. But the Russia probe, along with Trump’s own unpredictability and low approval ratings, has complicated the president’s use of the bully pulpit.
“Millions of American families — and I mean millions — continue to suffer from Obamacare while congressional Democrats obstruct our efforts to rescue them,” Trump said in Wisconsin. “And I’ll tell you, that’s exactly what’s happening. The Democrats have let you down big-league.” …
… But the headlines were dominated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Russia and the firing of former FBI Director James Comey. Moreover, there were later reports that Trump might not think congressional Republicans have yet to come up with “the greatest healthcare plan ever devised.”