Trump's Healthcare Proposal Amid Government Shutdown
President Donald Trump has urged Republican senators to scrap the Affordable Care Act and redirect hundreds of billions of dollars currently subsidising insurance companies toward direct payments to individuals. The controversial proposal came on the 39th day of the ongoing US government shutdown, which has now become the longest federal shutdown in American history.
In a social media post written from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump declared: "I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money sucking Insurance Companies in order to save the bad Healthcare provided by ObamaCare, BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE". He claimed this would allow Americans to purchase better healthcare plans while having money left over.
Republican Response and Political Reality
Several prominent Republican senators immediately welcomed the president's proposal. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Rick Scott of Florida and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana all expressed support during Saturday's Senate session, the first weekend meeting since the shutdown began more than a month ago.
However, the Republicans appeared to overlook several critical obstacles. Consumers would still need to purchase plans from the same insurance companies, and Republican lawmakers require support from eight Democrats to reopen the government. The idea of repealing and replacing Obamacare with savings accounts is unlikely to attract a single Democratic vote, making the proposal politically unworkable in the current divided Congress.
Transport Chaos Deepens as Shutdown Continues
The political manoeuvring occurred against a backdrop of increasing travel disruption across the United States. US airlines cancelled 1,460 flights on the second day of government-mandated flight cuts, deepening the impact of the extended shutdown on ordinary Americans.
While the slowdown at many of the nation's busiest airports hasn't yet caused widespread disruptions, analysts warn that the upheaval will intensify significantly if cancellations increase approaching the Thanksgiving holiday. The situation threatens to affect travel far beyond air transportation if the impasse continues.
Meanwhile, in other developments, Trump reportedly pressed the NFL's Washington Commanders to name their planned $3.7 billion stadium after him, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Businesses worldwide also braced for additional Trump tariffs on steel imports, with American companies requesting about 700 more items be added to an existing list of 407 products facing extra tariffs.
The Department of Homeland Security faced embarrassment after Secretary Kristi Noem allegedly authorised the purchase of Spirit Airlines jets before discovering the airline didn't actually own the planes - and that the aircraft lacked engines. The department also drew criticism from singer Olivia Rodrigo after using one of her songs in a clip encouraging undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the US.
