As the hours to a vote on the American Health Care Act wind down, President Donald Trump is applying some pressure as House Speaker Paul Ryan scrambles to find enough votes.
We are taking action to #RepealANDReplace #Obamacare! Contact your Rep & tell them you support #AHCA. #PassTheBill https://t.co/opzrXJigGA pic.twitter.com/C7snoRafPI
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2017
Earlier this week, President Trump warned Republicans during a visit to Capitol Hill they can either support the bill or risk losing their seat in the 2018 midterm elections. The White House would not go so far as saying Trump would actively campaign against members who vote in opposition to the bill, but haven't taken that option off the table.
Q Will he campaign against those Republicans?
MR. SPICER: Let’s get through the vote. I think one of the things that he made clear this morning was that he was going to make sure that the people who did support this, he would be out there supporting them. And so I’m not going to focus on the negative as much as the positive today. And he made it clear to members that for those of you who go out there and keep your word and support it, we’re going to make sure that we remember those who stood by us and who stood by the word that they gave to their voters.
Meanwhile Charles and David Koch have warned members to vote against the bill if they want funding for their re-election bids. The Koch brothers were heavily influential in giving Republicans their House and Senate majorities in 2010 and 2014.
President Trump is currently meeting with Freedom Caucus members at the White House in an attempt to work out a last minute deal.