President Donald Trump on Sunday pushed for Obamacare funding to be distributed directly to U.S. consumers, saying he wants to tackle a healthcare debate pushed by Democrats, but only after they back a GOP measure to open the government.
The government has now been closed for 40 days after Senate Democrats on Oct. 1 blocked a House-passed continuing resolution to keep the government open because it did not contain provisions extending Obamacare subsidies.
Trump said over the weekend he is open to having a conversation about healthcare, but only after Democrats agree to the “clean” CR that would keep the government operating at currently approved levels of funding. He accused Democrats of systemic hypocrisy for conditioning reopening the government on a one-year extension of pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies, arguing insurance companies, not consumers, are benefiting the most from the federal healthcare program. Obamacare is a broken system, the president argued in a stream of messages to Truth Social, writing that beneficiaries would be better served if they “directly” received funding allocated under the Affordable Act and were able to put those payments into personal Health Savings Accounts.
“I believe that the money should go directly to THE PEOPLE to purchase better Healthcare, and create competition. This enrichment of Health Insurance companies must stop. It is long past time to lower Premiums, not enrich Insurance Companies,” Trump said.
“I stand ready to work with both Parties to solve this problem once the Government is open. Stop terrorizing the American People. Stop pushing failed policies!” he continued. “I am sorry that the American People are being terrorized by Democrats who have decided to shut the Government down to make me and other Republicans continue ObamaCare subsidies, which have been a windfall for Health Insurance Companies, and a DISASTER for the American People. The largest Health Insurance Companies have seen their Stock Prices soar (Some over 1000%!) since the passage of ObamaCare. Meanwhile, Americans’ Premiums have more than DOUBLED, contrary to President Obama’s promise.”
Trump initially floated the idea of Obamacare funding being redirected from insurance companies to consumers on Saturday. The idea has been endorsed by top Republicans in the Senate, such as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Leading congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), have for weeks said they are supportive of negotiations to reform healthcare, but have conditioned any talks on first reopening the government.
Around 24 million people are enrolled in Obamacare health plans. The average ACA benchmark monthly premium has spiked by around 26% for 2026.
On Sunday morning, Trump alleged the “OBAMACARE SCAM” is going “straight” to Democrats’ “BEST FRIENDS IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY” despite the party’s claims “to be working for ‘the little guy.’”
“THEY ARE MAKING A ‘KILLING,’ while Health Coverage only gets WORSE,” the president wrote in a post to Truth Social. “If Democrats get their way again, they’re in for another HUGE Payday at the expense of the American People. NO DEAL! Republicans should give money DIRECTLY to your personal HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.”
Pressure has mounted on both parties to end the gridlock in Washington that has resulted in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Negotiations between party leaders to open the government have picked up steam in recent days. A resolution still appears uncertain, although some lawmakers, such as Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), are optimistic the shutdown will end by Thanksgiving.
THUNE SAYS HE OFFERED DEMOCRATS A ‘GUARANTEE’ FOR A VOTE ON OBAMACARE TO END SHUTDOWN
“It absolutely needs to — and needs to be open today, if we can get it open. So we put out a proposal [the CR] literally 14 times to say, ‘Let’s open it today, let’s keep negotiating,’” Lankford said during an NBC interview Sunday morning.
“And on the healthcare issue, it’s been fascinating. President Trump came out within the first week [of the shutdown] and said, ‘If you want to talk about healthcare, we’ll talk about healthcare as soon as the government is open,’” he added.
