WASHINGTON �� President Donald Trump Saturday criticized Sen. John McCain for delivering an apparent fatal blow to the latest Republican health care legislation, saying the Arizona Republican "let down" his state and the bill's sponsor by announcing his opposition.
In a series of early-morning Twitter posts, Trump also indicated that he isn't giving up on pushing last-ditch bill to replace the Affordable Care Act through the Senate next week by urging two other Republican opponents to support it.
But the president focused Saturday on McCain, who angered Trump in July by casting a "no" vote that killed an earlier Republican attempt to replace the health care law.
Trump questioned McCain's loyalty to his party and his close Senate friend, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
The health care bill is sponsored by Graham and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.).
On Friday, McCain announced that he could not "in good conscience" vote for the legislation, which is opposed by patient advocates, hospitals, physician groups and a growing number of health care experts.
McCain urged the Senate to work on a bipartisan health care bill while lamenting that he could not support legislation sponsored by his two Republican colleagues.
"I take no pleasure in announcing my opposition. Far from it. The bill's authors are my dear friends," he said.
No Democrats or independents in the Senate plan to vote for the Graham-Cassidy bill. That means Republicans can lose the votes of only three members from their slim 52-seat majority when the bill gets to the Senate floor for a vote next week.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. already has said he opposes the bill. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who also voted against the Republicans' health care repeal bill in July, have signaled strong reservations about the latest proposal.
Trump said on Twitter he was not giving up on getting support from Paul and Murkowski.
