The White House is indicating it will take a hands-off approach to the Senate’s healthcare work, entrusting Mitch McConnell and his team to come up with the 50 votes needed to replace Obamacare, according to GOP officials and lawmakers.

Whereas President Donald Trump and his emissaries negotiated legislation directly with House members, needled the House leadership on when to schedule votes and publicly surmised about the GOP’s whip counts in support of the bill, the White House seems to place more trust in McConnell.

That’s in part because the Senate’s outsized characters and ambitious members do not enjoy being dictated to by the White House.

“They know the Senate’s got a unique role. And they want us to play it,” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.).