President Donald Trump speaks at a reception for Senators and their spouses in the East Room of the White House on March 28. | AP Photo Trump tells senators: We can deal on health care ‘very quickly’

President Donald Trump still sees a deal on health care. In fact, he told senators he has “no doubt that that’s going to happen very quickly.”

Speaking in brief remarks at a White House reception for senators and their spouses, Trump brushed off the recent collapse of a House-led bill to repeal and replace Obamacare.


Instead, Trump said, based on the bipartisan crowd gathered he expects to do a deal on health care sooner rather than later.

“A lot of people showed up,” Trump said of the crowd, which included more than half the Senate and their spouses. “People we weren’t expecting. I know that we are all going to make a deal on health care. That’s such an easy one.”

He added, “I have no doubt that’s going to happen very quickly.”

Trump told the senators the public expected action: “We have all been promising it — Democrat, Republican — to the public.”

Trump noted he had "some very special friends in the room” and noted a “shockingly … bipartisan," crowd.

The president said he hoped the event was the start of something new.

"We are going to be doing a great job. Hopefully it will start being bipartisan because everybody really wants the same thing. We want greatness for this country that we love.”

He called out Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer: “I think we are going to have some very good relationships -- right, Chuck? I see Chuck. Hello, Chuck."

The reception included a mix of Democrats and Republicans. Entertainment included the Army Chorus, and Trump seemed to revel in the atmosphere.

“Nobody ever told me that politics was going to be so much fun,” Trump said.

Vice President Mike Pence, his wife, Karen, Trump and first lady Melania Trump all attended the event.