Senate GOP: Repeal Then Replace 'Not Going to Happen'

Senate Republican aides said repealing Obamacare first and replacing it later is "not going to happen," Axios is reporting. 

President Donald Trump took to Twitter Friday morning and urged GOP senators to "immediately" repeal Obamacare and replace it "at a later date."

If Republican Senators are unable to pass what they are working on now, they should immediately REPEAL, and then REPLACE at a later date!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 30, 2017

"Fifteen votes for that strategy. Which is why we are where we are," said a senior GOP aide, according to Axios, while another aide added: "Not really seeing anything happening in July if this keeps up," referring to Trump's comments.

And a third aide said the chances of repealing then replacing are "zero."

Trump's tweet reinforces the case of conservative lawmakers who are holding out against the Senate healthcare legislation, Axios reports.

According to CNN, anther aide mentioned that Trump had been opposed to repealing first.

"We did this dance six months ago. We've litigated repeal, delay, replace. Thoroughly," the aide said, CNN reports. 

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., had written a letter to Trump calling for repealing first and replacing later. 

And on Friday, Sasse tweeted:

Glad you agree, Mr Pres. If no agreement next wk, 2 steps:
1. Repeal 1st; then
2. Spend August full-time on replace:https://t.co/adlcft0tfE https://t.co/GrzRt8VASH

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) June 30, 2017

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