After seven years of pledging to repeal Obamacare, the Republicans were finally ready to take their best shot—and then backed away from the line in disgrace before they could hurl a brick some 15 rows deep.
The American Health Care Act (which we’ll call Trumpcare from here on out, thank you very much) collapsed today, as Trump himself asked to pull the bill that clearly didn’t have the votes to pass the House. Apparently squaring the American people’s values (providing everybody in this country affordable, useful health insurance) with the Republicans’ values (massively cutting taxes for the richest of the rich, even if that means dismantling basic services for all) was, as Trump said of healthcare itself, more complicated than anybody knew.
The poison bill is dead, and for now our healthcare system won’t wind up any more broken and useless than it already is. Almost as excitingly, Trump and Paul Ryan and the entire Republican machine just suffered one of the most public and brutal defeats in recent political history, so for most (considering how unpopular this bill was) it’s a time to celebrate. And Twitter, that reliable outpost for quality yuks about Trump and everything else, was up to the task.
Here are some of the best and funniest reactions to the preemptive death of Trumpcare.
Oh the irony that Donald Trump and Paul Ryan have no Plan B
— Margarita Noriega (@margarita) March 24, 2017
So what’s next? Not building the wall?
— Desi (@DesiJed) March 24, 2017
Thoughts and prayers with Paul Ryan, whose youthful dream of robbing poor people of their health coverage was dashed today.
— Ned Resnikoff (@resnikoff) March 24, 2017
Forget pulling the #AHCA. Republicans made the bill and they should be forced to bring it to full term.
— Travon Free (@Travon) March 24, 2017
Turns out they call Trump “the closer” because he likes to get very near to things and then pull back
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) March 24, 2017
paul ryan should’ve spent less time at keg parties fantasizing about dismantling health care and instead gone to class to learn how to do it
— joe mande ?? China (@JoeMande) March 24, 2017
“This never happens to me. So…I should probably get home. I’ll call you though,” say congressional republicans. https://t.co/MNKDQCEDON
— Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) March 24, 2017
Republicans had 7 years to come up with a good alternative to the ACA. They failed. It’s like the “Batman v Superman” of bills.
— Jason Pinter (@jasonpinter) March 24, 2017
it’s very important today to be really really really sore winners to the people who matter
— HUNTER S. FAILSON (@Bro_Pair) March 24, 2017
Who among us hasn’t written something the night before it’s due despite having 8 years notice and millions of lives hanging in the balance.
— James Hamblin (@jameshamblin) March 23, 2017
When you control every chamber of government and you finally get the chance you dreamed of to screw over poor people and still fail. #AHCApic.twitter.com/DHh8No0yIZ
— Travon Free (@Travon) March 24, 2017
Trump has done everything possible to repeal Obamacare including 5 visits to Mar-a-lago, 9 trips to the golf course & sitting in a big truck
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) March 24, 2017
Shit, guys. I think he might really be Making America Great Again. https://t.co/aRWF0HTTjQ
— Zach Heltzel (@zachheltzel) March 24, 2017
????????I’m just a bill, stopped on Capitol Hill, for trying to get millions killed???????? pic.twitter.com/4AD9bWtGug
— Michael, still here (@Home_Halfway) March 24, 2017
Ryan: (Trump) did everything he possibly could.
[Flashback to yesterday, Trump pretending to drive a big big truck]
Narrator: He hadn’t.— Erin ????Gloria???? Ryan (@morninggloria) March 24, 2017
Bills that failed because of Trump:
1. Trumpcare
2. Billy Bush— Susie Meister (@susie_meister) March 24, 2017
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) March 24, 2017
Trump was wrong. We’re winning so much and I’ll never get sick of winning.
— Desi (@DesiJed) March 24, 2017