Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price Thomas (Tom) Edmunds PriceConspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention Coronavirus Report: The Hill's Steve Clemons interviews Chris Christie Trump flails as audience dwindles and ratings plummet MORE on Sunday brushed off President Trump's remark last week that he might be fired if he is unable to get an ObamaCare repeal-and-replace measure through Congress.

“Oh, I think that statement was a humorous comment that the president made, but I think what it highlighted is the seriousness with which he takes this issue," Price told host Martha Raddatz on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The secretary then pivoted to listing the flaws with the current healthcare law of the land.

"He understands the American people are hurting because of ObamaCare," Price said.

On Monday, Trump had said that he would use his now infamous line "you're fired" on Price, a phrase that he popularized as host of the competitive reality TV show "The Apprentice."

“Hopefully he’s going to get the votes tomorrow to start our path toward killing this horrible thing known as ObamaCare that’s really hurting us. He better. Oh, he better. Otherwise, I’ll say, ‘Tom you’re fired,'” Trump said during a speech at the National Boy Scout Jamboree.

The Senate's effort to pass an ObamaCare "skinny" repeal deal collapsed overnight on Friday.