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Trump attacks Mitch McConnell for second day over Senate health policy failure
BEDMINSTER, N.J. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump attacked his own party's Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, for a second day on Thursday, complaining from the steps of his private New Jersey golf club about Republicans' failure to repeal and replace Obamacare.
"I just want him to get repeal and replace done. I've been hearing repeal and replace now for seven years ... Mitch, get to work and let's get it done," Trump told reporters at a briefing on his vacation.
In the aftermath of last month's collapse in the Senate of a years-long Republican campaign to gut the 2010 Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, Trump has berated McConnell and other Republican senators, urging them to return to the divisive issue of reforming the U.S. healthcare insurance system.
Many senators, including McConnell, have been making the case that it is time to move on to other policies, such as tax reform and improving infrastructure.
Asked at the briefing in Bedminster, New Jersey, if McConnell should consider stepping down as Senate Republican leader, Trump said: "If he doesn't get repeal and replace done, and he doesn't get taxes done ... and if he doesn't get a very easy one to get done - infrastructure - if he doesn't get them done, then you can ask me that question."
But Trump also said, "Where is repeal and replace? Now I want tax reform and tax cuts... so I say tax cuts, tax reform and I want a very big infrastructure bill."
Trump had assailed McConnell on Twitter both Wednesday and Thursday, responding to a speech in which the Senate leader said Trump had "excessive expectations" of Congress on matters such as healthcare and did not understand how long it can take to pass major legislation.
"Can you believe that Mitch McConnell, who has screamed Repeal & Replace for 7 years, couldn't get it done. Must Repeal & Replace ObamaCare!" Trump tweeted on Thursday.
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