President Donald Trump took to Twitter Thursday and named names of those Freedom Caucus Republicans he thinks are to blame for the crash of the American Health Care Act legislation meant to replace Obamacare.
The afternoon series of tweets pointed to an opinion piece at The Hill by Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), who explained why he supported the doomed bill despite his support of the Freedom Caucus.
Yes, I’m a conservative. I pal around with those liberty-loving Freedom Caucus guys. I get better grades on conservative scorecards than I ever received in college. And frankly, if you asked the Speaker, I think he’d tell you I’m a bit of a right-wing rabble-rouser.
"I supported the AHCA, and will continue to support it," Buck said pointedly, "because a yes vote is the principled, conservative position."
Trump contrasted Buck's support with the lack of support he got from Freedom Caucus members, and named them outright.
"Great op-ed from @RepKenBuck," Trump tweeted. "Looks like some in the Freedom Caucus are helping me end #Obamacare."
"If @RepMarkMeadows, @Jim_Jordan and @Raul_Labrador would get on board we would have both great healthcare and massive tax cuts & reform," he added with their Twitter handles tagged to make sure they saw the comment. "Where are @RepMarkMeadows, @Jim_Jordan and @Raul_Labrador?" He added the hashtags for "repeal and replace," and "Obamacare."
If @RepMarkMeadows, @Jim_Jordan and @Raul_Labrador would get on board we would have both great healthcare and massive tax cuts & reform.— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1490908844.0
Where are @RepMarkMeadows, @Jim_Jordan and @Raul_Labrador? #RepealANDReplace #Obamacare— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1490908910.0
Earlier Thursday, he had issued what many saw as a threat to support efforts to replace those Freedom Caucus members who would not support the much-maligned Obamacare replacement bill.
The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don't get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1490879262.0
Some Freedom Caucus members fought back, especially Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) and Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) who took to their own Twitter accounts.
It didn't take long for the swamp to drain @realDonaldTrump. No shame, Mr. President. Almost everyone succumbs to t… https://t.co/ojBL8WYLeQ— Justin Amash (@Justin Amash)1490882458.0
@realDonaldTrump Freedom Caucus stood with u when others ran. Remember who your real friends are. We're trying to help u succeed.— Raúl R. Labrador (@Raúl R. Labrador)1490898474.0
Other members of the conservative group were more accommodating in hopes of moving ahead on health care and repeal of Obamacare with the president.
Trump laid out his plan immediately after the bill's failure, saying that he would allow Obamacare to "explode" and wait for Democrats to come to him looking for a deal. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) responded that Democrats would be willing to work with the president, but only if a repeal was off the table.
