But a senior Democratic aide said the party plans to revive the “mean” comment part of floor speeches, press conferences and social media, and consultants said they craved the image of Trump celebrating in the Rose Garden with House members over a “mean” bill that hurt poor Americans.

“We will be weaving mean into the broader attack in a prominent way,” the aide said.

Democrats see the health care fight as more potent than an investigation into potential collusion with Russia and obstruction of justice — and a possibly defining gaffe for commercials, according to aides. Hitting Republicans in the House for a bill that “even Trump said was mean” is particularly satisfying for Democrats, considering the president celebrated its passage in the Rose Garden.