US President's plan to repeal Obamacare collapses

US President Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 15, 2017. Repealing and replacing the programme known as Obamacare was one of his major election pledges. PHOTO | NICHOLAS KAMM | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Trump told House Speaker Paul Ryan to pull the bill after it became apparent it would not get the minimum of 215 Republican votes needed.
  • Repealing and replacing the programme known as Obamacare was one of his major election pledges.

A vote on US President Donald Trump's health care bill has been withdrawn at the last minute after it failed to gain enough support to pass in Congress.

Mr Trump told House Speaker Paul Ryan to pull the bill after it became apparent it would not get the minimum of 215 Republican votes needed.

The withdrawal is seen as a huge blow to Mr Trump.

Repealing and replacing the programme known as Obamacare was one of his major election pledges.

Earlier on Friday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that the vote would go ahead at 15:30 (19:30 GMT).

Mr Trump had reportedly warned Republicans that if they did not vote for his bill then they would be stuck with Barack Obama's health care programme for good.

However, multiple reports suggested that between 28 and 35 Republicans were opposed to his bill.

The vote was withdrawn shortly after 15:30, and the House is now in recess.

Some Republicans were unhappy that the bill cut health coverage too severely, while others felt the changes did not go far enough.