At least 27 GOP representatives have indicated they will vote against the bill that will replace Obamacare

Republican lawmakers holding out against the party’s move to replace Obamacare with a new healthcare programme might face the consequence in the 2018 Congressional elections, President Donald Trump told them on Tuesday.

At least 27 Republican representatives have indicated that they would vote against the bill prepared under the leadership of House Speaker Paul Ryan and endorsed by Mr. Trump. The bill will be defeated if the Republicans lose more than 21 of their own votes, in the House of 430 members.

“He said, ‘You all ran on repealing Obamacare. Looks like you’d be ripe for a primary if you don’t keep your promise,’” Texas Republican Blake Farenthold told reporters after the President met with party lawmakers. The implication is that the President could support a rival of the sitting Congressman for party nomination in 2018.

Mr. Trump specifically addressed Mark Meadows, chairman of House Freedom Caucus, a group of staunch conservatives who believe the new bill does not go far enough to roll back the federal government support to healthcare under Obamacare. The group is opposed to refundable tax credits to help people buy insurance, among other things. Some members outside the Freedom Caucus are also opposed to the bill.

Winner vote

“We had a great meeting and I think we are going to get a winner vote,” Mr. Trump told reporters after the meeting. “They want a tremendous health care plan, that’s what we have. There’s gonna be adjustments to it, but I think we’ll get the vote on Thursday.” “I’m gonna come after you,” Mr. Trump told Mr. Meadows during the meeting.

Mr. Meadows has not caved in and said he intended to vote ‘no’ if the bill is put to ballot on Thursday. “I’m still a no, because the bill that we’re currently considering does not lower premiums for the vast majority of Americans, and that’s what we need to do,” he said, adding that he did not care if he would lose the next elections. The Republican leadership made changes to the draft on Monday night to appease the conservatives, but they were not impressed. Mr. Trump’s attempt on Tuesday was to press them to fall in line.

Mr. Ryan said the bill has enough votes to pass on Thursday. “We’ve been working with all of our members on many of their concerns, and I would simply say that a lot of our members concerns have been incorporated in this process,” he said after the President’s meeting with the lawmakers. “At the end of the day, it really is a choice — do you want to stick with the Obamacare status quo, do you want to stick with the idea that we made a promise and we’re not going to keep it?” the Speaker said.

Even if the bill passes in the House on Thursday, it will face challenges in the Senate where the Republican Party has a 52 to 48 majority. At least three Senators have already indicated that they would vote against the proposed law.