President Trump defended his healthcare policy record after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and swing-state Democrats targeted him over protections for people with preexisting conditions.
Pelosi ripped Trump over a lawsuit his administration agrees with that could wipe out all of Obamacare, including its rules that prohibit insurers from turning away sick people or charging them more than healthy people.
The speaker tweeted on Monday, “130 million Americans live every day with pre-existing conditions. They depend on knowing their health care, secured by protections in the [Affordable Care Act], is there when they need it. If President Trump’s anti-health care lawsuit is successful, life-saving protections will be torn away from millions of families across America.”
If President Trump’s anti-health care lawsuit is successful, life-saving protections will be torn away from millions of families across America. #ProtectOurCare
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 13, 2020
She also shared tweets that listed how many people live with preexisting conditions and could lose protections depending on their circumstances. Each of the tweets she shared were from Democratic members who represent states Trump needs to win to stay in office, such as Texas, Florida, and South Carolina.
Almost 2 Million South Carolinians with pre-existing conditions are at risk of losing their health care coverage if Republicans win their anti-health lawsuit.
No American should face discrimination because they have a pre-existing condition. #ProtectOurCare pic.twitter.com/HKq6PpRRmJ
— James E. Clyburn (@WhipClyburn) January 13, 2020
No American should face discrimination because they have a pre-existing condition. #ProtectOurCare pic.twitter.com/0p1uZFgcIC
— Rep Frederica Wilson (@RepWilson) January 13, 2020
Our government should be fighting to ensure Americans have access to quality, affordable health care without facing discrimination based on their pre-existing conditions – not working to take it away from millions! #ProtectOurCare pic.twitter.com/njnrNNk4lE
— Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (@RepGonzalez) January 13, 2020
Trump responded on Monday night by claiming that he supports protections for individuals with preexisting conditions, despite his administration’s lawsuit and his support for repealing the healthcare law in Congress in 2017. The alternative plans Republicans assembled would have weakened Obamacare’s rules on preexisting conditions.
On Twitter, Trump also called Obamacare’s fine on the uninsured, which was zeroed out as part of the GOP tax overhaul, “unfair.”
“I stand stronger than anyone in protecting your Healthcare with Pre-Existing Conditions. I am honored to have terminated the very unfair, costly and unpopular individual mandate for you!” Trump wrote.
He also claimed he was the “person who saved preexisting Conditions” in an earlier tweet on Monday, though it wasn’t clear what he was referring to.
“I was the person who saved Pre-Existing Conditions in your Healthcare, you have it now, while at the same time winning the fight to rid you of the expensive, unfair and very unpopular Individual Mandate,” he said. “And if Republicans win in court and take back the House of Representatives, your healthcare, that I have now brought to the best place in many years, will become the best ever, by far,” he wrote. “I will always protect your Pre-Existing Conditions, the Dems will not!”
I stand stronger than anyone in protecting your Healthcare with Pre-Existing Conditions. I am honored to have terminated the very unfair, costly and unpopular individual mandate for you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2020
….and, if Republicans win in court and take back the House of Represenatives, your healthcare, that I have now brought to the best place in many years, will become the best ever, by far. I will always protect your Pre-Existing Conditions, the Dems will not!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2020
Obamacare remains law as it’s being litigated in court. Pelosi took up Trump’s later tweet, writing, “Mr. President, actions speak louder than words. And for the last three years, you have taken every opportunity to dismantle protections for the 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions.”
Mr. President, actions speak louder than words. And for the last three years, you have taken every opportunity to dismantle protections for the 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. #ProtectOurCare https://t.co/7tRrXv8eAJ
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 14, 2020
