Trump Takes Victory Lap, Praising ‘Really Incredible Health Care Plan’
President Donald Trump hosted lawmakers in a Rose Garden celebration, which are usually reserved for major legislative victories.
USA Today:
Trump Claims Victory On Repealing Obamacare, But He Still Has A Long Way To Go
President Trump took a televised victory lap Thursday after the House voted to pass a bill that would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act – an unusual Rose Garden ceremony considering that final victory remains miles away. "What a great group of people," Trump said, surrounded by some four dozen House Republicans gathered at the White House. "It's going to be an unbelievable victory... when we get it through the Senate." (Jackson, 5/4)
ABC News:
Trump Says Obamacare 'Dead' After GOP Health Bill Passes House
[Trump] congratulated and thanked House Speaker Paul Ryan and praised House Republicans for coming together. "What we have is something very, very incredibly well-crafted," Trump said of the bill. "This has really brought the Republican Party together," Trump added. "As much as we've come up with a really incredible health care plan, this has brought the Republican Party together. We're going to get this finished." (Siegel and Stracqualursi, 5/4)
The Washington Post:
Trump Crows About His Health-Care Victory — Even Though He Hasn’t Really Won Yet
President Trump clapped and pointed. He grinned and nodded. He mouthed praise and boomed exultations. He even, at one point, turned his back to the lectern to face the House Republican leadership, tossing his arms wide in open embrace before swooping his index fingers above the crowd — as if conducting a symphony of recalcitrant lawmakers who had finally, haltingly, learned how to harmonize. (Parker, 5/4)
Politico:
Trump Savors Health Care Win: ‘Hey, I’m President’
“How am I doing? Am I doing OK? I'm president. Hey, I’m president,” Trump said in a Rose Garden victory lap that was unusually elaborate for a bill still so far from becoming law. “Can you believe it?” (Goldmacher, 5/4)
Politico:
'The White House Just Couldn't Let This Go'
Donald Trump had had it.The Obamacare repeal bill that the president had just boasted was on the cusp of passage was suddenly in trouble again, and the president demanded to talk to the influential congressman who dropped a bombshell hours earlier with an announcement he’d be voting “no”: Michigan Rep. Fred Upton. (Bade and Dawsey, 5/5)