Trump speaks at Jacksonville rally
President signed an executive order on a range of issues
The president talked about his health care vision at campaign stop before he heads to Miami today.
JACKSONVILLE — More than three-and-ahalf years into his presidency and 40 days from an election, President Donald Trump on Thursday launched what aides termed a “vision” for health care heavy on unfulfilled aspirations.
“This is affirmed, signed, and done, so we can put that to rest,” Trump said. He signed an executive order on a range of issues, including protecting people with preexisting medical conditions from insurance discrimination.
But that right is already guaranteed in the Obamaera health law his administration is asking the Supreme Court to overturn.
Trump spoke at an airport hangar in swing-state North Carolina to a crowd that included whitecoated, mask-wearing health care workers. He stood on a podium in front of a blue background emblazoned with “America First Healthcare Plan.” His latest health care pitch won accolades from administration officials and political supporters but failed to impress others.
Trump unveiled his agenda ahead of a two-day swing to several battleground states, including the all-important Florida. There, he held a rally in Jacksonville and was scheduled to court Latino voters at a round-table in Doral on Friday. Then he’ll fly to Atlanta, Georgia, to deliver a speech on black economic empowerment, and head to another rally in Newport News, Virginia.
The president says his visit to Miami on Friday won’t include a meeting with South Florida-born Supreme Court finalist Barbara Lagoa. “She is on my list,” he said during a news conference Wednesday in Washington. “I don’t have a meeting planned.”
Lagoa’s supporters say the Cuban-American judge will appeal to Hispanic voters and could help Trump carry Florida in the Nov. 3 election.
Both presidential candidates are laser-focused on the Hispanic voter base in the key battleground of Florida, which awards 29 electoral votes.
While in Florida, though, Trump doesn’t neglect his traditional base, as evidenced in the Jacksonville rally on Thursday. He hit on key themes: Farmer bailout, the “China flu” as he refers to the COVID-19 virus, his low-energy opponent, Joe Biden, Republican cities vs. Democrat cities, law and order, and his urgency to name the next Supreme Court justice. His comments on Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela drew muted applause, and reiterated his health care plan.
After Trump signed his order in North Carolina, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissively said Trump’s “bogus executive order on pre-existing conditions isn’t worth the paper it’s signed on.” Democrats are betting heavily that they have the edge on health care this election season.
“Executive orders issued close to elections are not the same thing as actual policies,” said Katherine Hempstead, a senior policy adviser with the nonpartisan Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which works on a range of health care issues, from coverage to quality.
Trump’s speech served up a clear political attack, as he accused Democrats of wanting to unleash a “socialist nightmare” on the U.S. health care system, complete with rationing. But Democratic nominee Joe Biden has rejected calls from his party’s left for a government-run plan for all. Instead, the former vice president wants to expand the Affordable Care Act, and add a new public program as an option.
Trump returned to health care amid disapproval of his administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and growing uncertainty about the future of the Obamaera law.
In a rambling speech, he promised quality health care at affordable prices, lower prescription drug costs, more consumer choice and greater transparency. His executive order would also try to end surprise medical bills.
Trump’s speech Thursday conflated some of his administration’s achievements with policies that are in stages of implementation and ones that remain aspirational.