Former President Donald Trump raged at Vice President Kamala Harris on Truth Social because she said: Wanted to end the Affordable Care Actfederal law signed by then-President Barack Obama that expanded access to health insurance.

“Liar Kamala is now holding a Press Conference saying I want to end the Affordable Care Act,” Trump said. sent 31 October. “I never mentioned that I did this, I never thought about such a thing.”

Trump gave confused and incomplete information about his plan for the 2010 legislation and Democrats, including Harris, during the current campaign I exaggerated How certain is it that Trump will eliminate the law if he wins back the Oval Office? His campaign says he no longer wants to repeal it.

But it’s ridiculously inaccurate to say that Trump has never talked about getting rid of it. Supported Trump in his first campaign and as president multiple efforts To get rid of the Affordable Care Act.

Trump’s new claim fits with another moment in the campaign’s revisionist health history; his running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, In September, he falsely said Trump “chose to move on” Affordable Care Act.

Trump’s history with the Affordable Care Act

In the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump promises to repeal law sometimes called Obamacare. Shortly after Trump took office discussed “Ambitious legislative agenda” that included repeal of the Affordable Care Act. He called it a “disaster” and said he wanted to save families from what he called “the catastrophic increase in premiums, the debilitating loss of choice, and everything else.”

Trump supported congressional Republicans’ failed repeal and replacement efforts. Here’s an example: American Health ActA bill repealing health law subsidies and regulations that the House passed in May 2017; It failed in the Senate. Inside June 2020, Trump administration asked the US Supreme Court He tried to block the law, but the court rejected the case.

Embers also cut funding For law’s marketing, outreach and enrollment assistance. expanded reach short-term, limited-scope plans Democrats call this “garbage insurance” and defend it. limit care and can lead to surprise medical bills.

During Trump’s presidency, Affordable Care Act enrollment denied more than 2 million and The number of uninsured Americans has increased increased by 2.3 million.

What is Trump’s plan now?

Trump had said inconsistent things during the 2024 election campaign about whether he wanted to overturn the law. In late 2023, Trump expressed interest in repealing and replacing the law.

“The cost of Obamacare is out of control, and Medicare is no good. I’m seriously looking at alternatives,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on November 25. “We had several Republican Senators who campaigned against this for 6 years and then threw up their hands to not end it. This was a low point for the Republican Party but we must never give up!”

On November 29, he wrote: “I don’t want to end Obamacare, I want to REPLACE IT WITH MUCH BETTER HEALTH CARE. Obamacare Sucks!!!”

He has since backed off.

in March it wrote He said on Truth Social that he wasn’t “trying to kill” the healthcare law, but wanted to make it “better” and “cheaper.”

HE in question During the Sept. 10 debate with Harris, he said they had “an idea of ​​a plan” to replace it.

But he did not provide further details, the Republican Party platform It doesn’t address the Affordable Care Act, and it didn’t mention the law either. campaign promises.

In a statement for this article, Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “Repealing Obamacare is not President Trump’s policy position. As President Trump has said, we will improve our healthcare system by increasing transparency, promoting choice and competition.” and expand access to new affordable health and insurance options.”

Our decision

Trump said he “never mentioned” he wanted to end the Affordable Care Act and “never thought about anything like that.”

We can’t read his mind, but we heard his words. And Trump not only entertained and debated the idea as a candidate and president in 2016, but also sought to kill the law through congressional action and at the Supreme Court.

He has been inconsistent about his plan for the law if he wins the presidency, and his latest stance is that repeal is off the table. But to say that he never “mentioned” wanting to break the law is wrong and absurd. Pants on Fire! We are evaluating your claim!

PolitiFact Staff Writer Samantha Putterman contributed to this report.

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