White House "surprised" by McConnell's talk of bipartisan health care approach

Two White House officials said Friday they were taken aback by McConnell’s comments, which clashed with President Donald Trump’s statement a week earlier expressing support for a backup proposal favored by hardline conservatives to pass a standalone repeal bill, with a replacement to come later.

One senior White House official said they were “surprised” by McConnell’s comments and said the White House sought assurances from McConnell’s office that the top Senate Republican wasn’t breaking with the current strategy.