Pelosi, Schumer: Trump ‘desperate’ to put focus on immigration, not health care

Democratic congressional leaders on Saturday slammed President Trump for calling Democrats “obstructionists” on immigration reform and accused the president of attempting to “change the subject” away from a national conversation on health care.
In a statement, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) accused Republicans of “making a mess” of the U.S. health-care system.
The statement comes as the Trump administration is currently arguing in court that ObamaCare’s pre-existing condition protections should be struck down.{mosads}
“The president is desperate to change the subject from health care to immigration because he knows that health care is the number one issue Americans care about,” Pelosi and Schumer said in the joint statement. “Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and Republicans in Washington are making a mess of our health care system, causing premiums to increase and care to decrease.”
“Democrats are focused like a laser on health care and will not be diverted,” they added, seemingly rejecting Trump’s request for negotiations and a deal to reform America’s immigration system.
.@realDonaldTrump is desperate to change the subject from health care to immigration because he knows that health care is the #1 issue Americans care about. The GOP is threatening to gut protections for pre-existing conditions. Dems are focused like a laser to #ProtectOurCare. pic.twitter.com/WtOPeTUMrb
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) October 20, 2018
The statement came hours after a tweet from the president accusing Democrats of causing “needless pain and suffering” by not coming to the table and striking a deal to fund Trump’s desire for increased border security.
“Look at the horrors taking place on the Border. Chuck & Nancy, call me!” the president tweeted Saturday morning.
If the Democrats would stop being obstructionists and come together, we could write up and agree to new immigration laws in less than one hour. Look at the needless pain and suffering that they are causing. Look at the horrors taking place on the Border. Chuck & Nancy, call me!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 20, 2018
The tweets come amid efforts by the Trump administration to pressure Mexican authorities into turning back a Honduran migrant caravan headed for the U.S., which is stopped along Mexico’s border with Guatemala.
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