Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kty., one of the most vocal critics of the American Health Care Act, said after golf with the president Sunday he is optimistic Republicans will come to an agreement on how to repeal ObamaCare. A vote on the AHCA was postponed indefinitely after the fractured caucus could not muster up enough support to pass the bill.
“We had a great day with the president,” Sen. Paul said after playing with President Trump and White House Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney at Trump National Golf Club in northern Virgina. “We did talk about some health care reform. I think the sides are getting closer and closer together. And I remain very optimistic that we will get an ObamaCare repeal.”
Director Mulvaney is a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, which led the opposition to the AHCA, the ObamaCare repeal bill introduced by House Republican leadership. Now, the president has trained his fire on the HFC since the bill failed, allegedly warning Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., the chairman of the caucus, “Oh Mark, I’m coming for you.”
Last Thursday, President Trump tweeted: “The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don’t get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!”
Last Saturday, White House social media Director Dan Scavino Jr. tweeted: “Donald Trump is bringing auto plants & jobs back to Michigan. @justinamash is a big liability. #TrumpTrain, defeat him in primary.”