As the federal government shutdown entered its 38th day, President Donald Trump called on Senate Republicans to abolish Obamacare and redirect federal health-care spending “directly to the people,” escalating tensions in an already gridlocked Congress.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump blasted the Affordable Care Act, writing:
“Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money-sucking Insurance Companies … should be sent directly to the people so they can purchase their own, much better, healthcare — and have money left over.”
He urged Republicans to “terminate the Filibuster,” which currently requires a 60-vote supermajority for most legislation, arguing that the Senate should act swiftly to end Obamacare and restore government operations.
The remarks came as Senate negotiations collapsed on a proposal that would have temporarily reopened several federal agencies. Democrats have refused to support any funding bill that does not preserve or extend ACA subsidies, while Republicans insist those talks wait until after the government reopens.
The shutdown — now the longest in U.S. history — has begun causing nationwide disruptions, including airline delays, unpaid air traffic controllers, and uncertainty over SNAP food assistance payments, which remain tangled in legal disputes. Trump’s latest comments signal he intends to use the standoff not just as a budget fight, but as a renewed push against the Affordable Care Act — one of the most contentious legacies of the Obama era.
