From boasts of greatness to lessons he learned

Washington, March 25 

President Donald Trump on Friday was dealt his biggest blow since taking office just over two months ago when House Republican leaders pulled legislation to overhaul the US healthcare system.

House Speaker Paul Ryan failed to garner enough votes in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives for the passage of the new healthcare bill to replace the Obamacare due to opposition from some of its own party lawmakers, in particular the one that have grouped themselves under the banner of Freedom Caucus.

The US House of Representatives --- similar to the Lok Sabha of the Indian Parliament --- has 435 members. The Republican party enjoys a simple majority in the House with 235 members.

However, Ryan, who had been leading the effort on behalf of Trump, could not muster the majority 215 votes. As a result, in an effort to avoid the humiliation of a defeat, Ryan announced that he was withdrawing the move to have a vote on Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

Throughout his presidential campaign and since taking office, Trump had repeatedly vowed to repeal and replace Obamacare, the signature domestic achievement of his Democratic predecessor Obama. — Agencies

Tweets on vow to repeal and replace Obamacare

• March 7: Our wonderful new Healthcare Bill is now out for review and negotiation. ObamaCare is a complete and total disaster - is imploding fast!
• March 9: Despite what you hear in the press, healthcare is coming along great. We are talking to many groups and it will end in a beautiful picture!
• March 13: ObamaCare is imploding. It is a disaster and 2017 will be the worst year yet, by far! Republicans will come together and save the day.
• March 16: Great progress on healthcare. Improvements being made - Republicans coming together!
• March 24: After seven horrible years of ObamaCare (skyrocketing premiums & deductibles, bad healthcare), this is finally your chance for a great plan!

Trump’s comments after Bill was dropped 

• We learned a lot about loyalty. We learned a lot about the vote-getting process.
• We really had it. It was pretty much there, within grasp.
• We learned a lot about some very arcane rules in obviously both the Senate and the House.