Former President Donald Trump recently denied claims from Vice President Kamala Harris that he sought to end the Affordable Care Act (ACA), calling her a “liar.” However, Trump’s statement contradicts his past actions and statements throughout his political career. In his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump made repealing and replacing the ACA, also known as Obamacare, one of his main promises. Upon taking office in 2017, he signed an executive order aimed at scaling back the ACA.
In addition, after the GOP-led House passed a repeal bill in 2017, Trump celebrated the achievement, declaring Obamacare “essentially dead.” Despite the Republican-controlled Congress failing to reach a consensus on a replacement plan, Trump continued to push for reforms during his presidency and has recently revived efforts to dismantle the law. In a November 2023 post, Trump even stated that he was “seriously looking at alternatives,” signaling ongoing attempts to dismantle the ACA.
At a September debate, Trump described the Affordable Care Act as “lousy” and indicated that he and his team were working on plans to replace it with something better. Although Trump’s rhetoric has evolved, especially in light of increasing investments in clean energy, the ongoing controversy over the ACA remains a key point in his political discourse.
