by Itunuoluwa  Adebo

Rep. Ted Poe has resigned from the conservative House Freedom Caucus Sunday over its opposition to the Republican health care plan, becoming the first public casualty in the fall-out over its role in defeating the bill.

“In order to deliver on the conservative agenda we have promised the American people for eight years, we must come together to find solutions to move this country forward,” the Texas Republican said in a statement. “Saying no is easy, leading is hard, but that is what we were elected to do. Leaving this caucus will allow me to be a more effective member of Congress and advocate for the people of Texas. It is time to lead.”

He said on CNN’s “New Day” Monday, that the group needs to “change their concept.”

“The issue was always the conservatives were not brought to the table in the Republican Party,” he said. “Now we’ve been brought to the table.”

The GOP health care bill was pulled from consideration Friday after it became clear Republicans did not have enough votes to pass the legislation, in part because of near-unified opposition from the Freedom Caucus.

Since then, the House leadership announced the Republican Party would move from its seven-year promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, and the House Freedom Caucus has been blamed for the defeat..

On Sunday morning, Trump wasted little time publicly rebuking the conservative group.

“Democrats are smiling in D.C. that the Freedom Caucus, with the help of Club For Growth and Heritage, have saved Planned Parenthood & Ocare!,” the President tweeted.