Trump says 'it's disgusting' Obamacare repeal isn't done, singles out McCain for his opposition
Trump called into the "Rick & Bubba Show," a talk show based in Alabama, to discuss the state's Senate primary on Tuesday. The conversation quickly shifted to healthcare.
Trump said lawmakers should be disappointed they have not yet repealed Obamacare, as they promised for seven years.
"They should be. It's disgusting," Trump said. "When I ran, I was told I'd have a bill on my desk. I'd sign it Day One."
Trump also claimed Republicans are scared to actually pass a repeal bill now that they have a Republican president that will sign it, saying GOP members now just "pander" and "grandstand."
The president was somewhat fatalistic about the prospects of the new GOP healthcare push, which has revolved around legislation known as the Graham-Cassidy bill.
"Looks like Susan Collins and some others will vote against," Trump said of the Republican senator from Maine. "So we're going to lose two or three votes, and that's the end of that."
Republicans can only afford to lose two votes for the legislation to pass. Collins said on Friday that she is "leaning against" the new bill. McCain and Sen. Rand Paul already said they plan to vote against the bill, and other Republican members are leaning against it as well.
Trump's most pointed comments were reserved for McCain, who was among three Republican senators that helped kill the last round of Republican repeal attempts in July. He said Friday that he would vote against thew newest proposal, the Graham-Cassidy bill. The president said McCain's opposition amounted to a "tremendous slap in the face to the Republican Party."
"You can call it what you want, but that's the only reason we don't have it, because of John McCain," Trump said.
Trump has repeatedly attacked McCain on Twitter for his decision to come out against the Graham-Cassidy bill over the weekend and has leveled criticism of the Arizona senator on numerous occasions.
McConnell, another repeat Trump target, also drew criticism from Trump. The president said McConnell was "not, polling-wise, the most popular guy in this country."
Republicans have until September 30 to pass the Graham-Cassidy plan under the process known as budget reconciliation, which allows them to avoid a Democratic filibuster and approve the bill with a simple majority.