Trump Says He Would Repeal Obamacare as President

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Facts

  • In a social media post over the weekend, former Pres. Donald Trump suggested that if he's reelected in 2024 he will repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and he’s 'seriously looking at alternatives.'1
  • Trump during his presidential term promised to repeal the 2010 law, which was passed during the Obama administration and includes protections for persons with preexisting medical conditions and subsidies for premiums. A thumbs-down vote by Republican Sen. John McCain stymied Trump's efforts in 2017.2
  • Nationwide approval of the Act went from 42% on Election Day 2016 to 55% in April 2017, according to polling from Gallup, with a Kaiser Family Foundation poll showing favorability ranging from 57% to 62% in recent years.3
  • A recent NBC poll conducted Sept. 15-19 found that despite Democrats trailing Republicans over who voters trust on the economy, immigration, and crime, Democrats outperformed the GOP 45% to 22% on healthcare.1
  • While it's unclear what 'alternatives' Trump would pursue if the Act were repealed, Trump has previously hinted at retaining some of its more popular features.3
  • Democrats denounced Trump’s comments, including Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) posting on X, 'First, they came for women’s health/choice, now they’re coming for ALL of our health care!' and the Biden administration saying in an email, 'Congressional Republicans keep proving that the top objective of MAGAnomics is tax giveaways for rich special interests, even if it means major price hikes on families.'2

Sources: 1NBC, 2The Washington Times and 3Washington Post.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by National Review. The former president is fiscally and morally justified in this pursuit. Obamacare has led to higher health insurance premiums and has taken tax money from hard-working Americans. It must be replaced by a system of targeted subsidies for the poor and elderly, and more freedom of choice for middle-class Americans.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Intelligencer. Democrats must sound the alarm because high inflation and increased interest rates might lead voters to support Trump's idea to sunset Obamacare, even though he has no workable alternative to present. The last time around, some Republicans rejected this agenda, but Democrats can't count on that moving forward.

Predictions