President Donald Trump on Monday threw a potential lifeline to Democrats holding out for an extension of expiring health insurance subsidies in exchange for voting to reopen the government, which has been partially shuttered for almost a week.

In impromptu Oval Office remarks, Trump said he was open to continuing, in some form, the expanded premium tax credits for coverage purchased on government-run exchanges.

“We have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things, and I’m talking about good things with regard to health care,” Trump said. “If we made the right deal, I’d make a deal.”

The president quickly added, however, that the current tax credits have led to “billions and billions of dollars … being wasted,” which has been one of the chief c

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