US PRESIDENT-ELECT Donald Trump has given his first major TV interview since his seismic election victory and has hinted that he may keep some elements of Obamacare.
Speaking to the 60 Minutes programme on CBS, Trump said that he will “repeal and replace” President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare initiative but told the interviewer that some parts will be kept.
The Affordable Healthcare Act guarantees health insurance coverage to those with pre-existing conditions and also allows young adults to stay on their parents’ coverage up to the age of 26.
Asked about these elements, Trump said he believes they are beneficial.
“Yes, because it happens to be one of the strongest assets,” he said.
Also with the children living with their parents for an extended period, we’re going to very much try and keep that. It adds cost, but it’s going to be very much something we’re going to try and keep.
Trump also denied that there would be a gap between the repeal of Obamacare and his own plan that would leave these people vulnerable.
“That’s what I do, I do a good job. I mean I know how to do stuff,” he said.
We’re going to repeal it and replace it and we’re not gonna have like a two-day period or two-year period where there’s nothing. It’s going to be repealed and replaced and it’s going to be much better healthcare for much less money.
During Trump’s bombastic election campaign, the billionaire property tycoon repeatedly promised that he would do away with Obamacare if he was elected president.
The interview will be broadcast tomorrow evening with Trump also speaking about the phonecall from Hillary Clinton in which she conceded defeat. He describes her call as “lovely”:
So Hillary called and it was a lovely call and it was a tough call for her. I mean I can imagine, tougher for her than it would have been for me and for me it would have been very difficult. She couldn’t have been nicer, she just said ‘congratulations Donald, well done’ and I said ‘I want to thank you very much you were a great competitor’.
Trump also says that Bill Clinton subsequently called him to congratulate him and that Clinton described Trump’s win as “one of the most amazing he’s ever seen.”
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