Paul Ryan worries Trump might abandon the Republican Party if he doesn't start seeing results soon


House Speaker Paul Ryan is fretting that President Trump might abandon Republicans to work with the Democrats if Republicans don't start producing results soon. "What I worry about, Norah, is that if we don't [pass a GOP health-care bill], then [Trump will] just go work with Democrats to try and change ObamaCare and that's not — that's hardly a conservative thing," Ryan told CBS This Morning's Norah O'Donnell on Wednesday. "[I]f this Republican Congress allows the perfect to be the enemy of the good, I worry we'll push the president into working with Democrats; he's been suggesting that as much."
Politico Playbook described Ryan's comment as "pretty striking," writing "the Republican speaker of the House acknowledges that the Republican president will abandon their party and work with Democrats if the GOP doesn't step up its game soon."
Ryan added: "I want a patient-centered system. I don't want government running health care. The government shouldn't tell you what you must do with your life, with your health care. We should give people choices." Watch the interview below. Jeva Lange
The Week
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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