Thread by @ASlavitt

BREAKING: We know Trump wants to eliminate the ACA and is suing to do so.

What I didn’t know until 24 hours ago was why? Why would a man light the match on health care, where he lost the Congress and which will bring down his presidency?

Follow if interested. 1/

I’ve spent the last 24 hours in DC asking this question of Trump officials, people on the Hill, and lobbyists.

That doesn’t give me a definitive answer but two people who have not been discussed much played a major role. 2/

Why would Republicans talk to Democrats about these items?

That’s a topic for another whole thread and if people want a thread on that, you can say so but it’s not the point here. 3/

Two people played some role in Trump’s decision from what I know.

One directly. One indirectly. 4/

First, Lindsay Graham has apparently been telling Trump he needs to take on the ACA and have a strategy for health care.

The “we’re the health care party” tweet has Graham’s fingerprints. “You can’t lie down like you did in 2016 & get beat by Democrats on pre-ex.”5/

So Graham is apparently trying to convince Trump to come up with something and appealing to his instincts to pick a fight.

To put it mildly, this is less than good service to the US public.6/

The second person that loomed in this decision— but indirectly/- was Chief Justice Roberts. The animosity towards the CJSCOTUS is something I didn’t appreciate. Roberts is apparently the root of much evil, including of course the 5-4 decision that held the ACA constitutional. 7/

Trump thinks he can force another decision on Roberts (as likely the tying vote) where he believes Roberts will be embarrassed. This logic is a little involved and very faulty so I’m not going to try to explain it now. But...8/

What Trump got wrapped up in is not presidential politics, let alone good presidential decision making (let alone doing what’s good for people), but 20 red state highly partisan AGs and personal pride and animosity. 9/

(To the people who want the logic it has to do with the mandate being labeled a tax and whether he can force Roberts into an opinion where he somehow says it’s not a tax when saying it’s fully severance. Told ya...)10/

I’ve briefed Obama. You can’t manipulate him. No one would try. You give him the facts and if he asks your opinion, you give him your best argument. 11/

Lindsay, among others, have studied the dark Shakespearean art form of how to manipulate the president— could probably reach a class on it.

I miss the days when you presented the president with policy options on how real people would be impacted. Quaint stuff. /end