Hollywood ridicules Donald Trump's Obamacare repeal fail: 'So much for The Art of the Deal'
Hollywood stars have reacted jubilantly after US President Donald Trump pulled his Obamacare repeal bill.
House Speaker Paul Ryan and Trump announced the move after it became clear that the voting process would end in failure.
The decision, which was made just minutes before the vote was due to take place, is being viewed as a significant setback for Trump, who promised to repeal and replace Obamacare throughout much of his campaign.
Ryan told Trump just ahead of the scheduled Friday vote that there were too many dissenting Republicans to pass the American Health Care Act.
The White House could only afford to have 22 Republicans vote 'no' on the bill.
John Legend, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Moore and George Takei were among those who took to Twitter shortly after to comment on Trump's defeat.
It's no secret that Hollywood and Trump's relationship is hardly a good one - particularly since Trump announced plans to cut government funding for the arts.
Ruffalo wrote: "Congratulations to the #Resistance for win on Health Care."
Moore mocked the business mogul turned-president's deal making skills with a nod his 1987 book: "So much for the Art of the Deal."
Thank you president @BarackObama for your compassion & service. Without it republicans wouldn't even be thinking of providing health care.
— Bryan Cranston (@BryanCranston) March 24, 2017
Thank you to all those who called their representatives and resisted ACA repeal in other ways. There's more to do, but this is a real win. https://t.co/ZkycABBOXk
— John Legend (@johnlegend) March 24, 2017
— Kal Penn (@kalpenn) March 24, 2017
Was thinking that after today there must be a bit of Trump at 70 that wishes he was just playing golf... but then I remembered he kinda is.
— Paul Bettany (@Paul_Bettany) March 24, 2017
Found outside Trump Tower! pic.twitter.com/n8l4BWaPWs
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) March 24, 2017
Speaker Ryan now apologizing 4 not being able to destroy the lives of 26 million Americans. "Growing pains" he calls it. They'll keep trying
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) March 24, 2017
Turns out this was all a big misunderstanding. Trump told Ryan he wanted to retweet, not retreat.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 24, 2017
Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your complete and utter failure on repealing ObamaCare. #Loser pic.twitter.com/FEyziQo6RL
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) March 24, 2017
In a statement made at a hastily-arranged news conference, Trump said "we learned about loyalty" in the process of the bill's failure.
"I think the real losers are [Democratic Minority Leader] Nancy Pelosi and [Senator] Chuck Schumer...they own Obamacare," he added.