Trump Today: Trump Today: President targets Obamacare with order and threatens to abandon Puerto Rico aid effort http://ift.tt/2yjD4El

This column provides a daily update on key presidential actions as well as comments, whether spoken aloud or on Twitter, by President Trump. Like the stock market, the deadline for Trump Today action is 4 p.m. Eastern Time, even as we acknowledge that substantive news can and does occur after hours.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday he said will bring “great, great health care” to millions of people, said Puerto Rico can’t be helped “forever,” and urged the Senate to confirm Kirstjen Nielsen as his secretary of homeland security.

‘SO MANY OPTIONS’ FOR HEALTH COVERAGE

The order directs agencies to consider expanding coverage in low-cost plans not subject to Obamacare rules — something experts say could raise costs for the sick.

In remarks at the White House, Trump said he was taking a step toward “saving the American people from the nightmare of Obamacare.” But he continued to urge Congress to repeal the law, something Republicans haven’t been able to do despite holding majorities in both the House and Senate.

Read: Trump order encourages cheap insurance plans not subject to Obamacare rules.

THREAT TO PUERTO RICO

Trump tweeted early in the morning that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. military and first responders can’t stay in Puerto Rico indefinitely, prompting criticism from San Juan’s mayor, among others. Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz — who has been critical of Trump and the federal hurricane-relief effort — said his comments seemed to come from a “hater in chief.” A FEMA spokeswoman later said the agency would remain in Puerto Rico and other disaster-hit areas “every day” throughout their recoveries.

Just 17% of the U.S. territory has power, according to the island’s government.

Read: Trump threatens to pull FEMA from Puerto Rico.

Also see: Puerto Rico has more than $70 billion in debt because of this.

NOMINATING NIELSEN

In a ceremony in the East Room, Trump said Nielsen wouldn’t need on-the-job training. “She is ready on Day One,” he said of the cybersecurity expert. If confirmed by the Senate, she would take the job formerly held by her current boss, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. Kelly ran the Department of Homeland Security before Trump brought him to the White House in July. Nielsen now works for Kelly at the White House as his top aide.

Also read: Trump’s chief of staff Kelly says ‘I’m not quitting today’ — or being fired.