DeSantis Seeks to Replace Obamacare like Trump, but Keeps Details under Wraps according to Vanity Fair

Written by Caleb Ecarma

Following in the footsteps of Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida and a Republican presidential candidate, has stated his desire to “replace and supersede” the Affordable Care Act with an entirely new healthcare plan. These comments were made during an interview that was aired on NBC’s Meet the Press, yet DeSantis could not provide any specifics about what the new system could be, despite approximately 40 million Americans relying on the current program. In response to requests for details, he only hinted at a “big proposal” that his campaign intends to launch in spring.

Similar to DeSantis, Trump also recently pledged to replace ACA, promising his plans would be “much better,” but he also failed to reveal any specifics of his proposed alternative.

Trump's comments, which he reiterated at a rally in Iowa, are puzzling. Initially, he claimed DeSantis could threaten domestic spending and promised to shield Social Security and Medicaid from cuts. However, his attack on ACA could lead to similar criticism. Despite stating he does not wish to "terminate Obamacare," this doesn't align with his recent actions.

The ACA is popular among Americans, making it a risky target, particularly for Trump, who is leading in the GOP contests. His renewed and aggressive stance against ACA could in turn provide ammunition for his political adversaries. DeSantis pointed out an unfulfilled promise from Trump's 2016 campaign where he pledged to repeal Obamacare. “He never was able to do that”, DeSantis stated during his Iowa visit.

Democratic opponents, including Joe Biden's campaign, emphasized the reliance of "more than one in 10 Americans" on the ACA for their health insurance, and criticized Trump for threatening to eliminate this if he regains power. The Democratic National Committee also used the anti-Obamacare positions of both Republican candidates to criticise them, citing potential increases in health insurance premiums if they succeed.

Even within his own party, Trump faces skepticism. Certain Senate Republicans seem confused about revisiting a debate over spending that seems outdated. “... But I'm not sure,” stated John Thune, the Senate Republican whip. “I’d want to know what the proposal is.” Bill Cassidy, the lead Republican on the Senate Health Committee, brushed off Trump’s pledge to dismantle the ACA, expressing doubt over its likelihood.

DeSantis’ political popularity has been declining since he first started his presidential campaign last spring. In New Hampshire and South Carolina, he trails behind not only Trump, but also Nikki Haley, the previous South Carolina governor. To counteract these losses, he has adopted an adversarial campaign style, underscored by his Meet the Press interview. DeSantis drew attention to Trump’s campaigning strategy, stating “This is part of a pattern,” “where [Trump is] running on things that he didn’t do.”