The House of Representatives were scheduled to vote on the American Health Care Act on Friday afternoon.
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Nearly an hour before the scheduled vote, House Speaker Paul Ryan pulled the bill. In a press conference shortly after the decision, Ryan cited flaws in the bill that needed to be addressed.
President Trump offered a few statements on the day’s actions:
Pres. Trump after health care bill is pulled: “We were very close…the best thing we can do politically speaking is let Obamacare explode." pic.twitter.com/anD2M4N90C
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 24, 2017
“We had no votes from the Democrats,” Trump said.
He passed along the blame both the AHCA’s failure to proceed and the ACA’s failures to Democrats:
Pres. Trump after health care bill is pulled: "I think the losers are Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, because now they own Obamacare." pic.twitter.com/JRguYcvstN
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 24, 2017
Trump also praised Ryan as well as other members of his team for their work leading up to Friday:
Pres. Trump thanks Speaker Ryan: "He worked very, very hard. I will tell you that." https://t.co/99GYZ9ll52 pic.twitter.com/qXiqPqF0mU
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 24, 2017
Trump also thanked the Republican Party and touted himself as a “team player.”
He had faith that the American people would “end up with a truly great health care bill,” in the future.
RELATED: Here’s how House Democrats reacted after Speaker Paul Ryan pulled the Obamacare replacement bill
NBC and the Washington Post’s Robert Costa shared a conversation that he had with Trump just after the decision was made:
President Trump just called me. Still on phone.
"We just pulled it," he tells me.— Robert Costa (@costareports) March 24, 2017
"I don't blame Paul," Trump tells me
— Robert Costa (@costareports) March 24, 2017
Trump told me he's willing to cut a bipartisan deal in the future: "When it explodes they [Dems] come to us and we make one beautiful deal.”
— Robert Costa (@costareports) March 24, 2017
RELATED: Paul Ryan has some answers after making the decision to pull the House Republicans’ health care bill
The president also saw the health care fight as a learning experience:
Pres. Trump: “In the end I think it’s gonna be an experience that leads to an even better health care plan.” https://t.co/99GYZ9ll52 pic.twitter.com/CyLC5Sk0Eb
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 24, 2017
Pres. Trump after health care bill is pulled: "We all learned a lot. We learned a lot about loyalty." https://t.co/99GYZ9ll52 pic.twitter.com/bbLksbsWF4
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 24, 2017
Trump was ready to move on from the day.
For him, time would prove to itself to be useful in a future fight over health care:
Pres. Trump on Obamacare: "I'd love to see it do well but it can't…I want great health care for the people of this nation." pic.twitter.com/oOo1J67EyX
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 24, 2017
“I think we have to let Obamacare go its way a little while,” he said, suggesting that its implosion would force Democrats to work with Republicans in order to create a better health care bill.
Republican members of the House Freedom Caucus had vocally opposed the AHCA alongside several prominent conservative groups.
Trump also addressed these Republicans in his remarks:
POTUS says he doesn't feel betrayed by House Freedom Caucus: "I'm disappointed, but they're friends of mine…they're very good people." pic.twitter.com/UURe1qXC7H
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 24, 2017
Trump said that he was “disappointed” and “a little surprised,” but had faith that “a better bill” would come out of the day’s actions.
Some days earlier, White House Press Secretary Spicer ominously warned that the Trump administration would remember “those who stood by [them]” on the AHCA. Trump himself also reportedly gave a similar warning to the Republican opposition to the bill.
A CNN source disclosed that Trump reportedly said “he will have football-stadium events in states where he won by 10-12 points, and he is going to dare people to vote against him” during a White House meeting with various Republican groups.
Following the statements, the Trump team met with the House Freedom Caucus. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), chairman, said that the Freedom Caucus was “really trying to get to yes” with the administration on a bill that would distinguish itself from the ACA:
Rep. Mark Meadows: “I am still a no at this time. I am desperately trying to get to yes.” https://t.co/BSK0D7esHu
— CNN (@CNN) March 23, 2017