Trump promises to veto Bernie Sanders health care bill that will never reach his desk

Jessica Estepa | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption WH dismisses single-payer health care proposal White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called Vermont Sen. Bernie Sander's call for a single-payer health care system a horrible idea. (Sept. 13)

President Trump promised Thursday to veto legislation for a single-payer, government-run health care system.

"Bernie Sanders is pushing hard for a single payer healthcare plan — a curse on the U.S. & its people," the president tweeted. "I told Republicans to approve healthcare fast or this would happen. But don't worry, I will veto because I love our country & its people."

...I told Republicans to approve healthcare fast or this would happen. But don't worry, I will veto because I love our country & its people. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2017

There's just one major thing to remember about this promise: He'll never get the chance to veto the bill, because it's never going to reach his desk during this current session of Congress.

It's true that the legislation, proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is gaining momentum right now. Sixteen Democrats in the Senate have lined up in support of the "Medicare-for-All" measure. And over in the House, 117 Democrats have signed onto similar legislation from Rep. John Conyers.

More: What would Sen. Bernie Sanders' 'Medicare-for-All' bill mean for you?

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand backs Bernie Sanders' bill for government-run 'single-payer' health care

But don't forget that Congress is still controlled by Republicans, and that those Republicans recently tried to dismantle Obamacare. While they couldn't get that done, it's highly unlikely that they would suddenly be on board with Sanders' proposal.

Of course, that hasn't kept Sanders from pushing back at Trump.

"No Mr. President, providing health care to every man, woman and child as a right is not a curse, it's exactly what we should be doing," Sanders tweeted, following Trump's veto promise.