Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed proposed a golden insurance card on November 12 bearing President Donald Trump’s signature to push for universal healthcare.
“Donald, this is on the table,” El-Sayed wrote on X, accompanied by mock-ups of a gold-colored card titled “TrumpCare.”
The back of the card states: “Show this card at any doctor, hospital clinic, or pharmacy in the United States.” Its gold appearance resembles the Trump Gold Card visa program for wealthy foreign nationals, which costs at least $1 million, according to Newsweek.
Universal healthcare has long been part of El-Sayed’s politics.
This is a message for @realDonaldTrump. Donald, this is on the table. Guarantee healthcare for every American, from cradle to grave. pic.twitter.com/f32IYs3FXG
“I don’t care what it’s called. I want people to have healthcare in this country,” El-Sayed said in a November 10 CNN interview.
Juven Jacob, founder and principal of Juven Capitol Strategies and a former presidential appointee in the Biden-Harris administration, said that El-Sayed was appealing to the president’s instinct for recognition while offering a path to support a policy traditionally championed by Democrats.
Texas Senator-elect James Talarico suggested at the What’s Next conference in Denver that Trump could secure a historical legacy comparable to Lyndon B. Johnson.
“If President Trump wants the same plaques and portraits and busts as LBJ, we can help make that a reality,” Talarico said Thursday.
Abdul El-Sayed on why he would be willing to call it "Trumpcare-for-All" if it meant Trump would sign it: "Donald, if you're watching, we can put your name on it. I know you like to put your name on stuff. You can finally meet the unmet promise in America to guarantee everybody… pic.twitter.com/FzBGAGLWRG
Talarico said that change cannot wait two years. He urged his party to work with Trump to make his final two years in office productive.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger also encouraged pushing legislation and daring Trump to issue vetoes. “Frankly, he likes attention,” Spanberger said. “Eventually he’ll want to do a signing ceremony, and eventually he might sign a couple of them.”
Sen. Elissa Slotkin expressed support for the dealmaking approach on Friday. “If slapping Trump’s name on it and putting it in gold letters would get it through, then hell yes I’m for it,” Slotkin said.
The Republican-led House Budget Committee has estimated that Medicare for All would add about $47.4 trillion to federal deficits from 2027 to 2036, while Newsweek said that narrower steps such as restoring ACA subsidies or limiting prior authorization in Medicare Advantage face a higher likelihood of becoming law.