Washington Free Beacon editor in chief Matthew Continetti on Friday described the new Republican bill to replace the Affordable Care Act as a "place setter" for President Trump.
MSNBC host Katy Tur first asked Continetti for reaction to comments made by Trump on Friday saying Obamacare was doomed to end in 2017.
"I think it has been imploding for some time, so I don't think there was a set timeline about when it was going to implode," Continetti responded.
He explained that Trump is trying to set the "political conditions" to get the House Republican replacement bill passed.
"I think Trump is trying so set the political conditions for the passage of the American Health Care Act," Continetti said. "The Ryan bill, and one of the big developments this week, Katy, has been that the president, in fact, is invested in pushing this bill. And I think that will be the difference maker that will certainly get it across the line in the House."
He noted that "it is another question" whether the bill passes through the Senate.
Tur then asked Continetti if Trump risks losing "political capital" in rural areas and with voters over 65 by pushing the health care bill.
Continetti said that Trump does run this risk, which makes it even more important that he "follow[s] through" with the "health reform in phases."
"This bill is basically a place setter," he said.
Continetti explained that the bill shows a move away from Obamacare and a shift toward "a more center-right model."
He reiterated the importance of Trump continuing with other reforms that he promised during the 2016 campaign.
"But, it's important that Trump follow through with some of the other reforms that he called for on the campaign trail, including the critical reform of being able to shop for your insurance across state lines," Continetti said.