Trump says 4 Republican senators who are against the healthcare bill are '4 good guys' who will 'probably get there'
President Donald Trump on Friday morning called out the four Republican senators who have come out against the GOP Senate leadership healthcare bill as written.
"They're also four good guys, and they're four friends of mine," Trump told "Fox and Friends" host Ainsley Earhardt in a White House interview. "I think that they'll probably get there."
"We'll probably have to see," Trump added.
Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and Mike Lee of Utah said in a joint statement Thursday that they're "not ready to vote for this bill," but left the door open to "negotiation" and "obtaining more information" before the bill is brought to a vote.
"[I]t does not appear this draft as written will accomplish the most important promise that we made to Americans: to repeal Obamacare and lower their health care costs," the senators said.
Republicans can only lose two votes if to pass the bill through the Senate. A version of the bill, the American Health Care Act, passed through the House of Representatives in May.
"You know, healthcare is a very difficult situation," Trump said. He discussed how the Clinton Administration had failed to pass a sweeping healthcare overhaul, and said Obamacare was "murder" for President Barack Obama to ram through Congress.
"Now it's failed - it's virtually out of business - Obamacare is a disaster, and we're trying to do something in a very short period of time," Trump said.
"I've been here for only five months," Trump said. "People are saying, where's the healthcare? Where's the healthcare? Well, I've done in five months what other people haven't done in years."
"It's a very complicated situation," Trump continued. "It's a very complicated situation from the standpoint, you do something that's good for one group but bad for another. It's a very, very narrow path"
"I think we're going to get there," Trump added. "We have four very, very good people that - it's not that they're opposed - they'd like to get certain changes."
Trump also spoke about the House special elections, and some Democrats' calls for Nancy Pelosi to step down.
He said it would be a "very, very sad day" if Pelosi steps down.
"I'd like to keep her right where she is because our record is extraordinary against her," Trump said.