Tweet downplays failure to replace Obamacare

PRESIDENT Donald Trump sought on Saturday to put a good face on his most stinging political setback yet, declaring that Obamacare would collapse and vowing to develop a “great” replacement.

“Obamacare will explode and we will all get together and piece together a great health care plan for THE PEOPLE. Do not worry,” the Republican said on Twitter.

But it was far from clear how soon Trump and fellow Republicans would be willing to wade again into the perilous political minefield of health care reform after failing to repeal Barack Obama’s signature programme. Trump was holding unspecified meetings on Saturday at a golf club in Virginia.

Friday’s defeat was more than a small stumble; Trump had thrown his full political weight behind the measure, the first big legislative test of his nascent administration.

The bill’s failure marked a second major policy setback, after courts froze Trump’s efforts to block travellers from several predominantly Muslim countries.

Trump, who built his candidacy on his skills as a negotiator, had very publicly twisted the arms of recalcitrant Republicans to rally votes, extending both carrot and stick.

But far-right lawmakers of the socalled Freedom Caucus mostly stood their ground, and every Democrat shunned the Republicans’ legislation, forcing the last-minute cancellation of a vote.

It was a sobering lesson for the president on the differences between the top-down operation of a big company and the murky legislative process often compared to sausage-making. As a candidate, Trump promised a “terrific deal” that would improve health care coverage while lowering costs. — AFP