WASHINGTON – House Speaker Mike Johnson informed supporters on Monday night that the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare,” would not exist if former President Donald Trump and the Republicans regain power in the upcoming election on Nov. 5.

At a campaign rally for Republican House candidate Ryan Mackenzie in Pennsylvania, Johnson, R-La., revealed that the Republicans aim to initiate “significant reforms” to the Affordable Care Act, provided they seize control of both houses of Congress and the presidency.

“Healthcare reform will be a major priority for us,” Johnson stated, emphasizing the GOP’s intent to dismantle regulations, particularly in healthcare.

“The ACA is entrenched, and we need substantial reforms to make it functional, and we have plenty of ideas on how to achieve that,” Johnson mentioned, referencing a video of the conversation initially shared by NBC News.

Republican leaders have repeatedly discussed repealing the ACA—a law that ensures insurance coverage for millions of Americans and safeguards those with pre-existing conditions—ever since it was enacted by Democrats alongside President Barack Obama in 2010. Trump has consistently vowed to eradicate the law since his campaign in 2016.

“We’ll end Obamacare and replace it with a variety of options, ensuring you have excellent healthcare at significantly lower costs,” Trump promised at one of his concluding campaign events that autumn.

However, during Trump’s administration, no replacement plan was introduced, and his efforts to repeal the ACA were thwarted in Congress when three Republican senators voted against it.

In 2024, Trump has committed to advancing the ACA but hasn’t provided any specific plans. Following his debate with Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris in September, he was ridiculed by Democrats for mentioning he had “ideas for a plan” that would be unveiled soon.

The healthcare law enjoys widespread popularity. Approximately 45 million individuals are enrolled in ACA health plans, with record numbers participating in 2024, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. A survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed over 60% of Americans view the law favorably.

Harris has suggested expanding ACA enrollment if elected and extending Medicare coverage to include long-term home care for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

In response to Johnson’s remarks, Harris’ campaign stated that “health care will be a significant issue in the 2024 election.”

“Speaker Mike Johnson is indicating clearly—if Donald Trump is victorious, he and his Project 2025 colleagues in Congress will ensure there is ‘no Obamacare,’” warned campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika. “This would lead to increased healthcare costs for millions and strip away protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, asthma, or cancer.”

Johnson dismissed these assertions.

“The evidence shows that I made no promise to eliminate Obamacare,” the speaker stated, claiming that House Republicans will consistently aim to lower costs and enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare for all Americans.

When contacted for clarification, Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that repealing the ACA isn’t part of the Republican presidential nominee’s “policy stance.” She noted that Trump intends to enhance the healthcare system through “boosting transparency, advocating choice and competition, and broadening access to new affordable healthcare and insurance alternatives.”