Republican leaders of the US House of Representatives pulled legislation to overhaul the healthcare system from consideration on Friday (Saturday NZT) due to a shortage of votes, despite desperate lobbying by the White House and its allies in Congress, dealing a stiff setback to President Donald Trump.

Republican leaders had planned a vote on the measure after Trump cut off negotiations with Republicans who had balked at the plan and issued an ultimatum to vote on Friday, win or lose.

It was unclear whether the bill might be rescheduled, although Trump told the Washington Post, "We just pulled it."

The showdown on the House floor follows Trump's decision to cut off negotiations to shore up support inside his own party.

Earlier on Friday, Republicans in Congress said they lacked the votes needed for passage of their US healthcare system overhaul and a key committee chairman came out in opposition after Trump demanded the vote.

Amid a chaotic scramble for votes, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, who has championed the bill, met with Trump at the White House. Ryan told the president there were not enough votes to pass the plan, US media reported.

The showdown on the House floor follows Trump's decision to cut off negotiations to shore up support inside his own party, with moderates and the most conservative lawmakers balking. On Thursday night he issued an ultimatum that lawmakers pass the legislation that has his backing or keep in place the 2010 Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare, that Republicans have sought to dismantle since it was enacted seven years ago.

JOSHUA ROBERTS/REUTERS Speaker of the House Paul Ryan told the president earlier on Friday that there were not enough votes to pass the plan.

"We'll see what happens," Trump said at the White House, adding that Ryan should keep his job regardless of the outcome.

Before the vote, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said: "What's happening today is a lose-lose situation for the Republicans. It's a lose-lose for the American people, that's for sure. But the people who vote for this will have this vote tattooed to their foreheads as they go forward."

Healthcare was the first major test of how Trump, a real estate magnate who touted his deal-making prowess in the 2016 presidential campaign, would work with Congress. Days of negotiations led to some changes in the bill but failed to produce a consensus deal.

@washingtonpost I'm looking forward to early A.M. Tweets from him blaming FAKE NEWS and everyone else for this failure. His loss, our gain. — Derek Adams (@RiotInciter) March 24, 2017

Replacing Obama's signature health care plan was a key campaign pledge for Trump and Republicans, who view it as overly intrusive and expensive.

Obamacare boosted the number of Americans with health insurance through mandates on individuals and employers, and income-based subsidies. About 20 million Americans gained insurance coverage through the law.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said under the Republican legislation, 14 million people would lose medical coverage by next year and more than 24 million would be uninsured in 2026.

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