Former President Donald Trump had the choice to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, but instead, he chose to strengthen it, according to Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).
During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on September 15, Vance commended Trump for building upon the ACA, even though he could have opted for the opposite approach.
Vance stated, “Donald Trump could have destroyed the program, or he could actually build upon it and make it better so that Americans didn’t lose a lot of health care. He chose to build upon a plan, even though it came from his Democratic predecessor.”
Contrary to Vance and Trump’s claims, their assertions are not accurate. The Trump administration’s actions largely aimed at undermining the ACA, including cutting funding for outreach efforts and supporting attempts to repeal the law.
Despite these challenges, ACA enrollment grew in popularity, with more than 20 million Americans enrolled in ACA marketplace plans. The law has become increasingly important for many Americans seeking health coverage.
Trump’s policies inadvertently led to some improvements in ACA plans, but the overall goal was to weaken the law. Criticism of Trump’s approach to healthcare reform suggests that his actions were meant to restrict certain provisions rather than enhance them.
While Trump promised a replacement plan for the ACA, one never materialized, and his administration’s efforts to repeal and replace the law were unsuccessful.
Ultimately, Vance’s claim that Trump took steps to enhance the ACA and protect millions of Americans’ healthcare coverage is unfounded based on the administration’s policies and outcomes.
