One of the most humiliating defeats in President Donald Trump's first term came in 2017, when the Trump administration attempted to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), colloquially known as Obamacare.
Repealing the ACA was one of Trump's most oft-repeated promises on the 2016 campaign trail, but without a coherent alternative to replace the law, the measure narrowly failed in the Senate, largely thanks to the deciding "No" vote from the late Arizona Republican Senator John McCain.
The Trump administration has been fighting the ACA through the court system, but in a Tuesday night town hall for ABC News, Trump once again claimed that his administration now had a feasible replacement for Obamacare.
Watch below.
George Stephanopoulos smashes Trump on his healthcare plan that he's been promising for ages...this is great stuff here👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/icaDQ0dMCX
— Icculus The Brave (@FirenzeMike) September 16, 2020
After moderator George Stephanopoulos pointed out that Trump has said for at least a year that his healthcare plan was ready, Trump doubled down:
"I have it all ready, and it's a much better plan for you and it's a much better plan."
The following day, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany gave a briefing where she was pressed by CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins on the details and architects of Trump's supposed healthcare plan.
Watch below.
"I'm not going to give you a readout of what our health care plan looks like and who's working on it. if you want to know, come work here at the White House" -- Kayleigh McEnany pic.twitter.com/wjGyKalfX0
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 16, 2020
McEnany said to Collins:
"I'm not going to give you a readout of what our health care plan looks like and who's working on it. if you want to know, come work here at the White House."
People criticized the Press Secretary for her dismissal of the valid question.
It is... quite literally her job to give a readout of what a healthcare plan looks like and who's working on it. https://t.co/0zw7MN9oLu
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) September 16, 2020
No, that's your job, bish. https://t.co/Llsfv3gZ0c
— kristen johnston (@thekjohnston) September 16, 2020
She was hired to fight with the press. Not to spin, not to spar, but to demean and discredit the reporters and generate clips that can circulate in the base-o-sphere. When the press shows up to be fought with, it confirms the logic of the appointment. pic.twitter.com/oyPTNhQjwg
— Jay Rosen (@jayrosen_nyu) September 16, 2020
Most transparent administration in history and whatnot. https://t.co/iVEyWy6ydg
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) September 16, 2020
People are astounded as to why the plan is so shrouded in secrecy—and whether or not it actually exists at all.
The White House has the same position on Trump's health care plan as they do on aliens and the JFK assassination. https://t.co/AqTPa9pkAL
— Max Steele (@maxasteele) September 17, 2020
Um... maybe I'm missing something but a health care plan is not quite like the secret sauce for the Big Mac. It does no good unless it is not only publicized but enacted into law. https://t.co/iGja339hbl
— Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) September 17, 2020
I'll tell you republicans' health care “plan."
Their plan is to steal your health care and then replace it with nothing. That's it. That's their plan. https://t.co/mLRXnXfRL5
— Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) September 17, 2020
There. Is. No. Plan.
There. Has. Never. Been. A. Plan. https://t.co/X5vhKIvIKH
— Invictus (@TBPInvictus) September 16, 2020
Some facts on this:
- There is no Trump health plan
- There never was a Trump health plan
- No one is working on it
- It won't be ready in “two weeks" or any number of weeks
- @PressSec is lying
- Trump is lying
- Trump is suing to end your protections for preexisting conditions https://t.co/cJBFSgOpg1
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) September 17, 2020
@hebagowayed/Bluesky
@waitmanwbeorn/X
@eighthoften/Bluesky 
@antigonesdream/Bluesky 
A1