President Trump admitted Thursday the House Republican healthcare bill could “change a little bit” as it goes to the Senate for a vote.
“It could change a little bit,” Trump said, according to White House pool reports. “It could be maybe even better. It’s a very good bill right now.”
Trump argued that the GOP bill, known as the American Health Care Act, will be more affordable than ObamaCare.
“Premiums are going to come down substantially. Deductibles are going to come down. It’s going to be fantastic healthcare. Right now ObamaCare is failing,” he continued.
{mosads}The House narrowly passed the bill by a vote of 217-213 on Thursday, with 20 Republicans joining all Democrats in voting against it. The measure now goes to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain future.
Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), the No. 2 Senate GOP leader, told reporters there is “no timeline” to pass the bill. A group of senators is also reportedly considering writing its own legislation.
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) drew laughs from his colleagues during an event in the White House Rose Garden celebrating the House vote when he said “our friends in the Senate are eager to get to work” on the healthcare measure.
Despite expected hurdles, Trump predicted on Thursday he will be able to ultimately sign the bill into law.
“I went through two years of campaigning and I’m telling you: No matter where I went, people are suffering so badly with the ravages of ObamaCare,” he said at the White House. “We’re going to get this passed through the Senate. I feel so confident.”
Trump and GOP leaders took a victory lap at the White House following the bill’s passage before Trump jetted off to New York to meet with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and make remarks at the USS Intrepid Museum.
Republicans passed the bill six weeks after failing to secure enough support for their initial measure to repeal and replace ObamaCare. GOP leaders pulled the initial measure before a scheduled vote in late March.
Trump told Turnbull on Thursday that Australia has a better healthcare system than the U.S. The president, however, also said the new GOP healthcare plan is “one of the best anywhere in the world.”