"3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down," President Donald Trump tweeted. | Evan Vucci/AP After health care loss, Trump tweets 'let ObamaCare implode'

President Donald Trump tweeted early Friday that the 51 senators who voted against the failed so-called "skinny" Obamacare repeal bill "let the American people down," urging lawmakers to simply "let ObamaCare implode, then deal."

"3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down. As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch!" the president tweeted less than an hour after the Senate failed to pass a trimmed down Affordable Care Act repeal bill.


Three GOP lawmakers, Sens. John McCain, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, broke from the Republican majority in joining the 48 Democratic senators in striking down the bill. The vote's failure serves as the latest setback for congressional Republicans in their pursuit of Obamacare repeal legislation.

Trump urged lawmakers on Twitter Thursday to fulfill their longstanding pledge to repeal and replace Obamacare — a pledge he campaigned on himself.

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"Go Republican Senators, Go! Get there after waiting for 7 years. Give America great healthcare!" he president wrote.

Vice President Mike Pence was seen actively campaigning for the bill on the floor of the Senate chamber right up until the vote was called. His presence, having the power to cast a tie-breaking vote, highlighted both the razor-thin margin by which Republicans were operating as well as the bill's importance to the Trump administration.

Trump, who has been sharply critical of the health care law ushered in by his predecessor, Barack Obama, has repeatedly called for government officials to simply let the system "implode."