Trump to Senate: Repeal Obamacare Now, Replace Later

President Donald Trump weighed in early Friday morning on the Senate's struggle to pass healthcare reform before vacation, urging GOP Senators to "immediately REPEAL" Obamacare and replace it "at a later date."

His message came on Twitter before 7 a.m. Friday:

If Republican Senators are unable to pass what they are working on now, they should immediately REPEAL, and then REPLACE at a later date!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 30, 2017

Trump's message suggests an approach that is being advocated by Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who's said he opposes the bill, which would do both at once.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell postponed a vote on the bill Tuesday because of opposition from conservatives and moderates. He's trying to nail down changes by this weekend to assure the bill's passage after the July 4 recess.

Republican efforts to forge a deal were complicated Thursday by a Congressional Budget Office report that said the Senate proposal would cut spending on government Medicaid for the poor by 35 percent come 2036.

Congress traditionally takes all of August off.

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.