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U.S. NEWS Monday 27 March 2017

Blaming conservatives, Trump signals new openness to Dems

Trump urged Americans in “He doesn’t blame Paul lationship is stronger than
a tweet to watch Judge Ryan,” Priebus said. “In ever right now.”
Jeanine Pirro’s program on fact, he thought Paul Ryan The White House faces a
Fox that night. She led her worked really hard. He en- tall task in gaining support
show by calling for House joys his relationship with for its congressional agen-
Speaker Paul Ryan to re- Paul Ryan, thinks that Paul da. Trump, for instance,
sign, blaming him for de- Ryan is a great speaker of now lacks the savings an-
feat of the bill in the Repub- the House.” ticipated from the health
lican-controlled chamber. A spokeswoman for Ryan, care bill to help pay for tax
Priebus described the two AshLee Strong, said Ryan cuts, while expected leg-
events as “coincidental,” and Trump spoke for near- islation to invest $1 trillion
insisting that Trump was ly an hour Saturday and in roads and infrastructure
helping out a friend by again on Sunday about and to cut down on illegal
plugging her show and no moving forward on the immigration will likely need
“preplanning” occurred. agenda, saying “their re- support from Democrats.q
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y. speaks with re-
porters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Schumer said Democrats
stood ready to work with Trump to fix Obamacare if he is willing
to drop attempts to repeal the law and not undermine it.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Continued from Front “explode.”
On Sunday, Priebus did not
Trump initially focused his answer directly regard-
blame on Democrats for ing Trump’s choice, saying
the failure and predicted that fixes to the health law
a dire future for the current will have to come legisla-
law. tively and he wants to en-
But on Sunday, his aides sure “people don’t get left
made clear that Trump behind.”
would be seeking support “I don’t think the president
from moderate Democrats, is closing the door on any-
leaving open the possibility thing,” he said.
he could still revisit health Senate Minority Leader
care legislation. White Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.,
House chief of staff Reince said Democrats stood
Priebus scolded conserva- ready to work with Trump
tive Republicans, explain- to fix Obamacare if he is
ing that Trump had felt “dis- willing to drop attempts
appointed” that a “number to repeal the law and not
of people he thought were undermine it. He warned
loyal to him that weren’t.” that Trump is destined to
“It’s time for the party to “lose again” on other parts
start governing,” Priebus of his agenda if he remains
said. “I think it’s time for beholden to conservative
our folks to come together, Republicans.
and I also think it’s time to “If he changes, he could
potentially get a few mod- have a different presi-
erate Democrats on board dency,” Schumer said.
as well.” “But he’s going to have to
As he ponders his next tell the Freedom Caucus
steps, Trump faces deci- and the hard-right special
sions on whether to back wealthy interests who are
administrative changes to dominating his presidency
fix Obamacare or under- ... he can’t work with them,
mine it as prices for insur- and we’ll certainly look at
ance plans rise in many his proposals.”
markets. Over the week- Their comments came af-
end, the president tweeted ter another day of finger-
a promise of achieving a pointing among Repub-
“great healthcare plan” licans, both subtle and
because Obamacare will not-so subtle. On Saturday,