Mike Johnson Had to Secretly Warn Trump His Big Plan Would Blow Up in His Face

The West Wing of the White House has postponed President Donald Trump’s plan to extend support for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) after House Speaker Mike Johnson privately warned House Republicans of a possible rebellion, according to multiple sources.

Johnson, 53, told Trump advisers in a phone call that there were not enough votes to extend the tax benefits of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which covers more than 20 million people and is set to expire on December 31, according to The Wall Street Journal.

This signal of rejection came as the 79-year-old president was considering a bill that included income caps and anti-fraud measures, the newspaper reported. Only a small percentage of House Republicans would support any extension, the Journal reports, because the inclusion of abortion rights in certain bills is a sticking point for many.

Faced with growing discontent, the White House has quietly suspended the rollout of the health care program due to opposition from congressional Republicans, according to Axios, even after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested on television that it could be unveiled as early as Monday.

White House Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt told reporters that the plan was still being developed and that no official release date had been set.

Axios reported that the points under discussion included the gradual implementation of income caps for health insurance premium tax credits, the elimination of no-premium health insurance plans that Republicans consider easy targets for fraud, and the creation of taxpayer-funded health savings accounts for those opting for lower-cost plans.

Axios also reported that a rough estimate from the Committee on a Responsible Federal Budget put the cost at $50 billion over two years, with the possibility of reimbursements if certain cost-sharing changes were made permanent.

This reversal came as a surprise, as the televised interview had primed viewers for a White House address on healthcare that ultimately did not air. CNN was forced to pull a controversial ad for a taco brand after the “The West Wing” series was pulled from the program.

Lawmakers have pledged to vote on healthcare reform by mid-December, in accordance with the agreement that ended the budget impasse earlier this month. Without congressional intervention, the largest subsidies will expire at the end of the year, potentially leading to higher monthly bills and a loss of health coverage.

Johnson has publicly insisted that any extension would require “massive reforms,” a stance that illustrates why the White House cannot rely on the House of Representatives.

Some Democrats have shown a willingness to negotiate. Senator Maggie Hassan, 67, said the outlines published in the press at least provide a starting point for discussions, according to Axios.

However, imposing stricter restrictions on abortion benefits would likely be very costly for Democrats, leaving Republicans without a clear path in the Senate and still without a majority in the House of Representatives, which Johnson leads.

Currently, Republicans are working on a solution that involves either adding a more restrictive provision to the funding bill that is to be passed, or seeking a compromise at a later date.