Biden and Obama Join Forces to Leverage Trump's Ongoing Obamacare Repeal Threats

President Joe Biden, along with former President Barack Obama, will join forces to gather support for the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. This weekend, Democrats are leveraging former President Donald Trump's threats to repeal Obamacare.

The dynamic duo, Biden and Obama, will be joined by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in hosting a national organizing call on Saturday. The goal is to rally supporters and defend the ACA from Trump's attacks. This call is part of a weekend of action dedicated to energizing voters around the Affordable Care Act, a landmark achievement signed into law by Obama on March 23, 2010.

The campaign is focused on making health care a key issue in the 2024 campaign, especially after Trump mentioned repealing Obamacare if he wins a second term in the White House.

Even though the Affordable Care Act was passed without Republican support and faced multiple repeal attempts during Obama's presidency, it has become more popular since Trump became president in 2017. The Biden campaign sees preserving the law as a strong political move, especially as Obamacare sign-ups for 2024 coverage reached a record high of 21.3 million.

Trump had promised to get rid of the law as president but was unable to because he and congressional Republicans did not have a solid replacement health care plan. The last major repeal attempt failed in Congress during Trump's first year, with Sen. John McCain and some other Republicans joining Democrats to stop the effort.

Around that time, more Americans viewed the law unfavorably than favorably. Today, a near record 59% of Americans have a favorable view of the Affordable Care Act, according to KFF, a nonpartisan research group.

More than 40 million Americans now have health care coverage because of the Affordable Care Act, which is an increase from just under 27 million in 2017, as reported by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Biden and advocates for the landmark health reform law are also emphasizing its additional benefits, such as protecting individuals with pre-existing conditions from higher charges by insurers, offering free preventive care like cancer screenings, cholesterol tests, and annual checkups, providing more access to mental health and substance abuse treatment through Medicaid, and allowing young adults to remain on their parents' health insurance until they reach 26 years old.

Trump once again talks of repeal

The Affordable Care Act would be far harder to repeal today since it is more embedded in the nation’s health care system than it was in 2017.

However, Trump surprised some of his own advisors last year by renewing his promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act during his latest campaign for the presidency.

In a speech in Newton, Iowa earlier this year, Trump declared, "We're going to push for improved healthcare compared to Obamacare. Obamacare is a disaster that is often overlooked. Without John McCain, we would have already made changes."

Biden’s campaign is set to host over 20 in-person events in battleground states starting this Thursday. These events will feature local elected officials and individuals who have benefited from the health care law. Additionally, there will be a strong focus on advertising and social media leading up to the anniversary.

This marks the continued partnership between Biden and his former boss as they gear up for the 2024 campaign. Last year, they released a video affirming their commitment to protect and expand Obamacare in the face of threats from Trump. Obama has also been involved in helping with some of the campaign's fundraising efforts.

Biden and Obama will be seen together in person next Thursday at a New York City fundraiser. The event will include the two presidents as well as former President Bill Clinton.

This report includes contributions from CNN’s Zachary B. Wolf.

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act has sparked renewed attention to the landmark healthcare law. President Biden and former President Obama are joining forces to rally support and defend the ACA from threats of repeal by former President Trump. Their campaign aims to make healthcare a key issue in the 2024 election, highlighting the law's popularity and the benefits it provides to millions of Americans.

Since its enactment in 2010, the Affordable Care Act has significantly expanded health insurance coverage, protected individuals with pre-existing conditions, and provided access to vital preventive care. Despite initial Republican opposition, the law has gained widespread acceptance and is now viewed favorably by a majority of Americans. While Trump's promise to repeal the ACA remains a threat, the law's deep integration into the healthcare system makes it increasingly difficult to dismantle. Biden and Obama's efforts to galvanize support for the ACA demonstrate their commitment to protecting access to affordable healthcare and ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to live healthy lives.