Last night, Donald Trump doubled down on his call to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), saying it would be “a priority of the Trump administration.” This comes after a barrage of negative press for his call to “terminate” the ACA. In total, if the ACA were “terminated,” 20 million Americans would lose coverage and 15 million would see higher health care costs.
More people are relying on the ACA than ever before, with President Biden and Democrats in Congress lowering costs and making enrollment easier. The Trump-MAGA agenda of repealing the ACA is rejected by the American people, costing Republicans at the ballot box repeatedly, and unpopular among voters of all parties.
FEATURED
Biden-Harris HQ: “This is what will happen if Trump gets his wish to repeal the Affordable Care Act.”
[X, @BidenHQ, 11/28/23]
President Barack Obama: “The stakes could not be clearer.”
[Threads, @BarackObama, 11/28/23]
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY): “House Democrats will never let right-wing extremists destroy the Affordable Care Act.” [X, @RepJeffries, 11/28/23]
Speaker Emerita Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11): “Trump wants to “terminate” the Affordable Care Act — but we are NOT going back to the bad old days of greedy insurance companies denying health care for patients with pre-existing medical conditions. Democratic women, we need you to know your power and show your power in 2024!” [X, @TeamPelosi, 11/28/23]
HEADLINES:
Axios: GOP Cautiously Open to Trump’s Push for ACA Repeal. “Two top Senate Republicans signaled they could be open to a revived effort. ‘I think Obamacare has been one of the biggest deceptions on the American people,’ said Sen. John Cornyn. ‘I mean just look at your health care premiums.’ But he added he would ‘be interested to hear exactly how he [Trump] would try to accomplish it.’ Sen. Mike Crapo, in line to be Finance Committee chairman in a GOP Senate, said he’s still open to proposals similar to the 2017 repeal and replace bills.” [Axios Pro, 11/29/23]
The Hill: GOP Members Have Largely Conceded That an Obamacare Fight Is a Losing Issue. “Republicans don’t have a plan to replace ObamaCare. When Trump was president and Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress, they tried and failed to repeal the law. Three GOP-led attempts to repeal the law through the courts have also failed, including one backed by Trump in 2020. Since then, GOP members have largely conceded that an ObamaCare fight is a losing issue.” [The Hill, 11/27/23]
MSNBC: On ACA’s Future, Trump Isn’t Done Doing Democrats a Big Favor. “Trump’s talk about creating one of the world’s best health care systems certainly sounds nice, though the rhetoric is belied by the fact that he’s literally spent years assuring Americans that he was poised to unveil an amazing plan that would vastly improve upon the Affordable Care Act. The Republican has never followed through on the rhetoric, however, because he has no such plan — and he never will.” [MSNBC, 11/29/23]
Politico Florida Playbook: Trump’s Gift to Florida Democrats. “Congressional Republicans failed to undo Obamacare under Trump, largely because they couldn’t agree on a replacement. Since then, Democrats have used Obamacare as an effective rallying cry to win elections by focusing on the popular parts of the law that would go away under GOP repeal, such as how it forbids insurers from turning away or out-pricing sicker customers.” [Politico, 11/29/23]
USA Today: ‘Furious and Frightened’: Gen Z Voters Say Trump Is ‘Failing’ Them on Health Care. “The comments have raised concerns among young voters who are worried about the popular Obamacare provision that guarantees young adults receive health insurance coverage under their parents’ plans until age 26. … Health care ranks as a top concern for voters in their teens and twenties, according to recent polling. Jack Lobel, national press secretary for Voters of Tomorrow, said the issue spans the political spectrum. ” [USA Today, 11/29/23]
Miami Herald: Opinion: Trump Attacks Obamacare Again, but Floridians Have Embraced It. He Should Back Off. “Is Trump asking for a do-over? He might first want to take a good look around him. In his home state of Florida, Obamacare is more popular than ever. A record 3.2 million people in Florida obtained health insurance under the Affordable Care Act — aka Obamacare — early this year, a 19% increase over the previous year. Nationwide, that number reached 15.7 million.” [Miami Herald, 11/29/23]
OTHER MEDIA:
The Message Box Newsletter: A Second Trump Term Would Be Very Bad! “Over the holiday, Trump took to Truth Social to announce that repealing the Affordable Care Act would be a priority in his return to the White House. While Trump failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act in his first term, there is ample reason to believe he could easily succeed in his second. John McCain, who famously saved the ACA with his thumbs down, is gone. The party as a whole has moved to the Right.” [The Message Box, 11/29/23]
What A Day Podcast: “Yet another wild stance to have to be like let’s take away this thing that gives 40 million people health care – something that is objectively good. But it all fits in the puzzle of the Republican platform … Republicans have been coy when asked about Trump’s comments saying that they don’t know what he is talking about and of course, this is all tied to Republicans’ failed attempt to repeal the ACA back in 2017 … If it wasn’t already clear, people, if he wins in 2024, Trump is going to not only continue to push to take away critical policies like the Affordable Care Act and punish his political opponents, but he’s gonna reignite that dumpster fire of harm that, you know, he started back in 2016.” [Crooked Media, 11/29/23]
SOCIAL MEDIA:
President Pro Tempore Senator Patty Murray (D-WA): “The leader of the Republican party wants to rip coverage away from 40 million Americans, ending pre-existing protections for over 100 million, and sending costs skyrocketing. While the GOP fights to repeal the ACA, Democrats will work to protect health care and lower costs.” [X, @PattyMurray, 11/27/23]
Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Conference Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): “Donald Trump failed to repeal Obamacare, but he’s once again threatening to rip away health care from millions of Americans. It’s dangerous & must be rejected. How do we lower health costs? By taking on giant corporations who rig the system —exactly what the Biden admin’s doing.” [X, @SenWarren, 11/27/23]
Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Conference Mark Warner (D-VA): “Quick reminder… terminating the ACA would mean 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions would lose protections. 21 million folks served by Medicaid expansion (including in Virginia) could lose coverage. This is a deeply serious threat to make.” [X, @MarkWarner, 11/27/23]
Secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference Tammy Baldwin (D-WI): “I’ve taken on this fight before and I’ll do it again. Ripping away coverage from tens of millions of Americans and gutting protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions is just wrong.” [X, @SenatorBaldwin, 11/28/23]
House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA): “40 million Americans rely on the Affordable Care Act to receive affordable health care. What’s the Republican plan? Take it away.” [X, @WhipKClark, 11/28/23]
House Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ): “Trump is saying the quiet part out loud – Republicans are still determined to repeal the ACA and take health care away from millions of people. Democrats are fighting hard to protect American’s health care, and we will continue to do so.” [X, @FrankPallone, 11/28/23]