Trump Warns House Republcians To Support Health Bill Or Risk Losing Their Jobs
by Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge.comMar 21, 2017
Realizing just how much is at stake in Thursday Trumpcare vote, which could set back his domestic policies for months, and even delay his tax reform into 2018 should it not pass, Trump went on the offensive in his visit to the Capitol on Tuesday seeking to “whip” republicans, especially the Freedom Caucus, to vote for his healthcare plan. In typical fashion, Trump was quite direct and issued a stern warning, telling Republicans they could “lose their seats” and the House majority, in 2018 if they fail to repeal and replace ObamaCare, GOP sources said quoted by The Hill and Axios.
During a closed-door meeting in the basement of the Capitol, Trump told rank-and-file House Republicans if the party is not successful in passing its health care bill, “I believe many of you will lose in 2018,” according to a source in the room.
To be sure, passing the House is just the first hurdle: should the American Health Care Act pass the Thursday, it will then head to the Senate, where it faces an even tougher road.
For now, however, Trump is focused on the House. His visit to Capitol Hill was billed as a rally for the healthcare bill, just two days before the historic vote to roll back President Obama’s signature domestic achievement. But the gathering took on a darker tone.
The president told lawmakers a failed vote would be embarrassing to the party and could result in members facing primary challengers and Republicans losing the House, sources said.
Here, Trump singled out Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows, a Trump ally during the presidential campaign who opposes the legislation.
Trump asked Meadows to stand and then talked about how Meadows supported his campaign early, adding he expects Meadows to support the Republican Obamacare replacement bill in the end. Trump then directly “threatened” the biggest hurdle to Trumpcare in the House:“I think Mark Meadows will get there too,” Trump told the Freedom Caucus chairman, half-joking. “Mark, I’m coming after you.”
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