Trump guarantees coverage for people with pre-existing conditions in health care bill

WASHINGTON -- President Trump said pre-existing conditions will be in a health care bill, as his first 100 days in office drew to a close.

"This bill is much different than it was a little while ago, okay?" Mr. Trump said in an interview with "Face the Nation." "This bill has evolved. And we didn't have a failure on the bill. You know, it was reported like a failure. Now, the one thing I wouldn't have done again is put a timeline. That's why on the second iteration, I didn't put a timeline."

• FULL TRANSCRIPT: President Donald Trump's interview with "Face the Nation"
  

"But we have now pre-existing conditions in the bill," the president continued. "We have -- we've set up a pool for the pre-existing conditions so that the premiums can be allowed to fall."

A recent amendment to the GOP's bill from Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-.New Jersey, allows states to seek waivers to weaken key Obamacare reforms such as a ban on allowing health carriers to charge people more based on their health background.

But Mr. Trump said, "we have a clause that guarantees" pre-existing condition coverage, claiming news reports that pre-existing conditions aren't covered are false and that they are covered "beautifully."

Mr. Trump said any hiccups in the bill that would have charged older Americans more have been "totally fixed."

Republicans were unable to reach an agreement on health care last month, so they didn't vote on the matter. Mr. Trump said on Fox earlier this week that a vote on health care might come next week. 

• Questions on Trump's policy knowledge remain after 100-day marker
  

On Sunday morning, Mr. Trump tweeted about health care and pre-existing conditions, echoing some of the remarks he made on "Face the Nation."

Mr. Trump said he has learned how "dishonest" the media are in his first 100 days as president.

"Well, one of the things that I've learned is how dishonest the media is, really," said Mr. Trump, who also criticized the media during his presidential campaign. "I've done things that are I think very good. I've set great foundations with foreign leaders."

Mr. Trump -- after telling the Reuters news agency earlier this week that he thought the presidency would be "easier" than his previous life -- told "Face the Nation" that he is "thoroughly enjoying it."

"It's always a challenge, like life itself is a challenge," he added. "But it's something that I really love and I think I've done a very good job at it."

Mr. Trump also addressed claims that he flip-flopped on labeling China a currency manipulator. Mr. Trump had previously said that he would label China a currency manipulator on day one of his presidency, then later seemed to shift his position after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The president said on "Face the Nation" that he "got them to stop" manipulating currency.

"They were doing it before (the election). I mean, there was no question," Mr. Trump said. "I mean, they were absolute currency manipulators before. But somebody said, 'Oh, you didn't call him a currency manipulator.' Now, you and I are just talking about how he's working -- I believe that President Xi is working to try and resolve a very big problem, for China also. And that's North Korea."

"Can you imagine if I say, 'Hey, by the way, how are you doing with North Korea? Also, we're going to announce that you're a currency manipulator tomorrow,'" the president said. "So the mainstream media never talks about that. They never say that. And that's, you know, unfortunate."

Mr. Trump also addressed the investigations into Russian hacking of the election. Asked whether the Russians were involved, he said, "That, I don't know."

"I'll go along with Russia," he said, but added, "Could've been China, could've been a lot of different groups."

Additional coverage of the interview with Mr. Trump will air Monday on "CBS This Morning," broadcasting live from the White House.

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