Despite a major setback in the U.S. Senate, President Trump said on Wednesday that the Republican healthcare bill was moving along well and predicted a "big surprise" was yet to come.
In a big hit to a seven-year quest to undo Democratic former President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday abandoned plans to get the bill passed this week.
Trump, who met with Republican senators on Tuesday, made his optimistic comments to reporters at the White House on Wednesday while meeting with players from the World Series-winning Chicago Cubs.
Trump promised an insurance system that is "far better than Obamacare" and "much less expensive" for Americans and the government.
But he recognized the challenges ahead in the Senate, where Republicans hold 52 of 100 seats, meaning they can only afford two defections.
"It's very tough -- every state is different, every senator is different," the president said. "We'll see what happens -- we're working very hard, we have given ourselves a little bit more time to make it perfect."
Trump later said he did not think Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer was serious when asking for a meeting for all 100 U.S. senators to negotiate healthcare changes.
AFP contributed to this report.
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