Trump says Ryan should remain House Speaker — even if health care bill fails

Even if the House Republicans' health care bill fails, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) should still remain speaker of the House, President Donald Trump said Friday.

Asked by reporters if Ryan should remain speaker, Trump answered in the affirmative. He also asserted that the controversial health care bill was not rushed.

"We'll see what happens," Trump repeatedly told reporters Friday ahead of the House vote.

Even still, the New York Times reported Thursday that Trump "regrets" going along with Ryan's plan to push through health care legislation first. And senior administration officials told Bloomberg that should the bill be defeated, the White House is prepared the lay the blame squarely with Ryan. Pro-Trump media also plan to blame Ryan and other GOP lawmakers for the bill's failure.

The House GOP's bill — officially dubbed the American Health Care Act but often referred to as TrumpCare or RyanCare — has the unfettered support of both Ryan and Trump.

However, armed with a list of demands, the powerful House Freedom Caucus — a coalition of nearly three dozen conservative Republicans — strongly opposes the bill as it lacks key provisions important to conservatives, including repealing essential health benefits such as maternity leave and addiction treatment; cutting preventive health measures such as birth control; and repealing the standardized benefit and coverage documents required by Obamacare.

White House officials and House Republicans met Thursday to negotiate, but Trump's team eventually delivered an ultimatum: negotiations are finished and the House will vote Friday.

Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney warned that should the House not pass the Obamacare replacement, Trump will move on from the health care legislation, and Obamacare will remain in place.

[graphiq id="cCIdKhDlu8l" title="Republican Lawmakers Expressing Concern With the AHCA" width="600" height="642" url="https://w.graphiq.com/w/cCIdKhDlu8l" ]

(H/T: The Hill)