President Trump: I am too involved in health care

David Jackson | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump, Pence host GOP senators at White House President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are hosting Republican senators at the White House to discuss flailing efforts to pass a new health care bill. (June 27)

WASHINGTON — Even as Senate Republicans struggle to find consensus on health care, President Trump insists he's a part of the deal.

"Some of the Fake News Media likes to say that I am not totally engaged in healthcare," the president tweeted Wednesday. "Wrong, I know the subject well & want victory for U.S."

Some of the Fake News Media likes to say that I am not totally engaged in healthcare. Wrong, I know the subject well & want victory for U.S. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 28, 2017

Trump did host a meeting of Senate Republicans at the White House on Tuesday, but only after GOP leader Mitch McConnell announced the delay of a vote on a new health care plan because of a lack of support.

Before then, Trump made a few calls to conservatives like Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas, but most of the heavy lifting on lobbying fell to Vice President Pence and the White House legislative staff.

While Trump played a more active role in the House health care debate this year, The New York Times reported that "the Senate Republican leadership has made it known that it would much rather negotiate with Mr. Pence than a president whose candidacy many did not even take seriously during the 2016 primaries."

That kind of news coverage drew the president's ire on Twitter.