Frustrated Trump Threatens to Unseat Freedom Caucus Members in 2018

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump declared war Thursday on House conservatives who helped derail his health care plan last week, threatening to unseat them in 2018 -- and lumping them with Democrats as the cause of his troubles.The threat marked a major escalation in a brewing Republican civil war. It reflected deep frustrations from a president whose first major legislative foray ended in defeat, and an unusual willingness to turn against fellow Republicans. "The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don't get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!" Trump tweeted.Four Texans are part of the House Freedom Caucus, the 30 or so ultra-conservatives that Trump targeted. Though all resisted the health care bill, some came around in the end and they didn't much appreciate the broad brush threat from the White House.   Continue reading...