President Donald Trump on Saturday proposed a plan to \u201cterminate\u201d Obamacare by redirecting federal insurance subsidies directly to Americans, bypassing insurance companies. In posts on Truth Social, Trump criticized funds sent to \u201cmoney-sucking insurance companies\u201d and urged that the money be given to individuals to \u201cpurchase their own, much better, healthcare.\u201d He framed the proposal as a populist effort to cut out intermediaries and give federal spending directly to the people.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s comments came amid ongoing pressure to end the government shutdown, which has disrupted services and delayed SNAP benefits for 42 million recipients. He linked the shutdown fight to his health care ambitions and urged Senate Republicans to \u201cnuke\u201d the filibuster to pass spending legislation without Democratic support. While the plan drew some praise from conservatives for empowering individuals, critics questioned its feasibility, noting that the government currently spends about $138 billion in subsidies\u2014not \u201chundreds of billions\u201d as Trump claimed\u2014and that Americans rely on insurers to administer ACA plans.<\/p>\n
Democrats denounced the proposal as a rehash of failed repeal efforts from Trump\u2019s first term, warning it could destabilize the insurance market and raise costs for millions. The White House has yet to release an official plan detailing implementation or costs, but Trump\u2019s message was clear: he intends to end the filibuster, end the shutdown, and dismantle Obamacare entirely.<\/p>\n