Donald Trump took credit for the Obama administration announcing premium hikes. | Getty Trump claims he forced Obama to reveal hikes in healthcare premiums

Donald Trump falsely claimed credit Monday for the federal government's announcement of premium hikes for President Barack Obama’s signature health care law ahead of the presidential election.

“I worked very hard to force those numbers out,” Trump said Monday morning at a rally in Sarasota, Florida. “It’s gonna have a great impact on — you know, my poll numbers are going through the roof. You know why? I really believe a big part of it is Obamacare because we’re gonna repeal it and replace it.”


The Obama administration announced last month that premiums on key Obamacare plans will rise on average by 25 percent next year. On the trail, the Republican presidential nominee has pledged to repeal and replace the president’s Affordable Care Act and vowed last week to call a special session of Congress to do just that — although Democrats would likely have enough votes to filibuster a quick repeal, even if Republicans maintain control of the Senate.

And as far as Trump being the one who forced the administration to reveal the forthcoming hikes? It's hard to see how that's possible. Prices for Obamacare plans for several years have been made available to the public before the start of open enrollment. Customers were able to window shop on HealthCare.gov before the current sign-up season began Nov. 1, a week before Election Day, so they could examine their plan options and prices for the upcoming year. The three-month window for the current open enrollment period was also settled on months ago as part of a routine regulatory process.

“Real change begins with immediately repealing and replacing Obamacare,” Trump told supporters Monday. “It’s just been announced that the residents of Florida — sorry to tell you this, folks; I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna make you depressed; half of you are gonna walk out of the room but don’t do that — are going to experience massive double-digit premium hikes, K? And they’re far greater than what you’ve been told. You’ve been told numbers because they didn’t wanna do it before the election.”

A day before either he or Hillary Clinton will likely be named president-elect, the Republican nominee found several sources of distraction amid his own crowd of supporters.

The reality TV star was true to form throughout his rally, veering off his message of being the unbound political outsider who can deliver much-needed change to Washington and defeat a so-called “rigged” system. Instead, he admonished Clinton-backing music artists for their lyrics, admired a mask of himself, mused about donning a fireman’s hat and congratulated a father for helping create an adorable child.

“I see she’s doing fine. I’m doing fine in the polls and all that stuff,” he said. “I don’t know how. Nobody goes to her rallies. So she got Jay Z and Beyoncé, and the language that they used was so bad. The language — the language was so bad. And as they were singing — singing, right? Singing? Talking? Was it talking or singing? I don’t know. But the language — by both — but the language was so bad that many of the people left, right? By the time Hillary got up there was nobody there.”

Still attacking Clinton for having music stars perform for her throughout the country at get-out-the-vote events — including Jay Z and Beyoncé on Friday — Trump suggested the electric chair would be reinstituted for him if he ever used such words.

The real estate mogul also said Americans are looking for greatness for their country and religious liberty. Then he saw himself — in mask form.

“Look at this mask. Look at this mask,” he said, pointing. “Oh, wow. Wow, that’s beautiful. Look at that. Looks just like me.”

The crowd urged for him to put it on, and the mask was taken to Trump on stage. He held up the outstretched mask next to his face and presented it for the crowd to see.

“Nice set of hair, I’ll say that,” Trump quipped before giving it one last look and tossing it off stage.

Trump later vowed that the country’s psyche would change as soon as he’s elected president Tuesday, even if he wouldn’t take office until mid-January. “Right? This guy knows. Fireman, fireman, right? Great fireman,” he said. “Great people. Great, great people. It’s not easy being a fireman today, right?”

He recalled hearing a “new problem” after speaking with firemen recently before asking for his hat. “Oh, can I — oh, wow,” he said. “Get that for me. Wow.”

Trump went off camera to retrieve the fireman’s hat, which he clutched in his left hand as he returned to the lectern. “Tell you what, I was all set to put it on then I see it’s about 20 years old, and this sucker has been used,” he said. “No way I’m putting that on. No, but the firemen have a big — they have a big problem. They have a shooting problem where they’re being shot at as they go to fires.”

He stayed on message for about two minutes before he spotted an infant worth talking about. “The people of this country are so incredible. Aww, look at that,” he said. “Look at that. Beautiful! Beautiful baby! Beautiful baby! Good job. Good job, Daddy. Wow. Oh, that’s an elephant costume, huh? That’s so cute.”

Rachana Pradhan contributed to this report.