0:34President Donald Trump converses with journalists aboard Air Force One en route from Joint Base Andrews to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, November 25, 2025. Alex Brandon/AP
President Donald Trump now indicates that prolonging Affordable Care Act subsidies "could be essential" as the enrollment period nears its end for millions of U.S. citizens poised to experience considerable premium increases in the coming year.
"Someone suggested that I extend it for a couple of years. I am not interested in prolonging it for that duration. Ideally, I would prefer to eliminate them altogether," Trump conveyed to reporters on Air Force One on Tuesday evening, responding to reports that the White House would be proposing a scheme encompassing a two-year subsidy extension.
However, Trump proceeded to mention that "a certain form of extension might be deemed vital to accomplish other objectives because the Affordable Care Act has proven to be a complete failure. It has been a disaster."
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters while in flight on Air Force One from Joint Base Andrews to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Nov. 25, 2025.Alex Brandon/AP
These remarks follow a heated disagreement on Capitol Hill concerning health care tax credits, which gave rise to the lengthiest government closure in U.S. history, as Democrats advocated for an extension and Republicans largely resisted.
An agreement to conclude the shutdown in the Senate incorporated a pledge from Majority Leader John Thune to permit a vote on a Democrat-sponsored bill pertaining to the Affordable Care Act in December.
Conversely, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had characterized the subsidies as a "wasteful enterprise" during the funding dispute, stated that he would not guarantee a vote on ACA subsidies in the House.
"Can I assure a vote on unmodified COVID-era ACA subsidies that serve merely as a boon for insurance entities and a financial drain on taxpayers? There is much we need to address on this matter," Johnson noted in mid-November. "Before considering anything of this nature, we, the Republicans, would insist on considerable reforms. We must engage in a comprehensive deliberation process."
Certain susceptible Republicans, however, have urged Johnson to organize a vote on the matter.
A survey conducted by KFF just before the commencement of the federal government shutdown revealed that 78% of Americans support the continuation of ACA marketplace tax credits — inclusive of 59% of Republicans.
Time is of the essence in securing a resolution for the approximately 22 million ACA participants currently benefiting from a tax credit designed to lower monthly premiums. The deadline for Americans to enroll in or modify a plan for coverage beginning on January 1st is December 15th. The final opportunity to subscribe to marketplace health plans for 2026 is January 15th.
Congress is presently in recess for the Thanksgiving holiday. Trump is observing the holiday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated on Monday that the issue was a "frequent and vigorous topic of discussion within the West Wing" and that Trump was actively participating in the discussions, although she refrained from disclosing additional specifics.
During Tuesday’s Air Force One flight, Trump faced further questioning regarding when he intends to present his health care strategy and what it might include.
"Well, we’re evaluating various options. Personally, I favor my own plan," Trump asserted before reiterating his concept of directly compensating Americans for health care expenditures.
"Rather than allocating funds to insurance companies, provide the funds directly to individuals. Enable them to independently procure their health care coverage. We’re exploring this possibility to assess its feasibility. This approach has gained considerable traction, and it aligns with my preferences," Trump stated on Tuesday.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
