Trump tells Senators new GOP healthcare bill is 'mean'

During a lunch meeting with GOP senators on Wednesday, President Donald Trump called the House-version of the American Health Care Act "mean," and urged them to make it more generous.

Trump reportedly talked about having a bill come out of the Senate that protects people with preexisting conditions and having a tax credit that works for low income elderly Americans, according to the story originally reported by the Associated Press.

Trump has previously praised the bill's passage in the House, in a celebration at the White House.

[Also: Trump, Senate Republicans looking for healthcare bill this summer]

The American Health Care Act to replace the Affordable Care Act narrowly passed the House, and is now in the Senate, where it is expected to be revised. Republican conservatives and moderates are divided as to what should be included in the bill. The Senate has a Republican majority of only two votes.

The GOP has said it wants a bill passed before the August recess. Some in Congress have indicated they want to see it go forward for a vote by July 4.

Trump made replacing the ACA a priority during his campaign for president, saying the bill signed into law under President Obama has been a disaster.

[Also: Insurers both winners and losers in GOP bill]

Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma, have recently sent out statements on the lack of insurer participation in the ACA that is expected to leave 47 counties nationwide without a carrier in 2018. They also released a statement that two million people who signed up for exchange coverage this year have dropped out due to cost, lapsing or never making a premium payment on their plans.

Trump tweeted yesterday, "2 million more people just dropped out of ObamaCare. It is in a death spiral. Obstructionist Democrats gave up, have no answer = resist!"

Twitter: @SusanJMorse