President Donald Trump took to Twitter throughout the day Thursday to place blame for the failure of the American Health Care Act on conservative Republican lawmakers in the House Freedom Caucus — and on Friday, the group responded.
The Freedom Caucus rejected the American Health Care Act, the House Republican leadership's health care bill that Trump supported, arguing that the bill did not fully repeal Obamacare, which was a promise they had made to their constituents. GOP leadership ultimately pulled the bill when they realized they did not have enough votes to pass it.
Although many moderate Republicans outside of the Freedom Caucus also objected to the bill, Trump has pointed to the Freedom Caucus as the cause of the bill’s failure.
Trump vowed to “fight” Freedom Caucus lawmakers — members of his own party — in the 2018 midterm election. He also called some of its members out by name.
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
Great op-ed from @RepKenBuck. Looks like some in the Freedom Caucus are helping me end #Obamacare. https://t.co/Y2vTnIBTBZ— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1490908650.0
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
In a series of tweets Friday, the Freedom Caucus responded, saying its members are “committed to keeping our promise” on Obamacare.
.@RealDonaldTrump We are where we've always been: committed to keeping our promise. https://t.co/VVzqUKYoeX
— House Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucus) March 31, 2017
.@realDonaldTrump .@RealDonaldTrump Repeal includes eliminating the costly Obamacare regs that are driving up Americans' premiums.
— House Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucus) March 31, 2017
.@realDonaldTrump .@RealDonaldTrump We can do better than a plan that only 17% of Americans support. #KeepOurPromise
— House Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucus) March 31, 2017
Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho), one of the Freedom Caucus lawmakers Trump mentioned, answered the president's tweet as well.
“Freedom Caucus stood with u when others ran,” he wrote. “Remember who your real friends are. We're trying to help u succeed.”
@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
Alyssa Farah, a spokeswoman for the Freedom Caucus, also took to Twitter to answer Trump’s question about where the lawmakers were:
