By Safvan Allahverdi

WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order marking the first step to dismantling his predecessor’s signature health care law and making it easier for Americans to buy cheaper health insurance.

“Since I became president of the United States, I just keep hearing repeal and replace, repeal, replace. Well, we’re starting that process," Trump said at a news conference at the White House. "And we’re starting it in a very positive manner."

Trump has long desired to repeal former President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and fulfill a key campaign promise that allegedly would lower tax rates for American corporations and the middle-class, which he believes will boost the U.S. economy.

“This will direct (departments) to take action to increase competition, increase choice, and increase access to lower-cost, high-quality health care options,” Trump said. “This will cost the United States virtually nothing, and people will have great, great health care.”

Calling Obamacare “a nightmare”, he said the new measures “should’ve and could’ve been done a long time ago.”

According to the White House, the order also eases the sale of short-term insurance policies the Obama administration restricted. It will also allow employers to deposit money into special accounts their employees can use to purchase their own insurance plans.

Democrats, however, argue the tax reform will benefit wealthy Americans and big companies.