World Bulletin / News Desk

US President Donald Trump's much-vaunted negotiating skills were put to the test Wednesday as he held last-ditch talks to convince Republican lawmakers to vote for his health care reforms -- but a victory was far from certain.

With Democrats opposed and his own party's right flank in revolt, Trump brought in wavering lawmakers to try to tip the scales in his favor.

"Big day for healthcare. Working hard!" Trump tweeted.

Insiders say Trump's meetings have been focused less on specifics than on the politics of "Trumpcare" being defeated -- an outcome that would be a humiliating defeat for the billionaire leader at the start of his term.

For years, Republicans have promised to overturn Obama's reform, describing it as government overreach. But some lawmakers have balked at their own party's plan, saying it's still too costly for the government.

Others worry that their constituents will no longer be able to afford health insurance -- a nonpartisan congressional budget estimate says 14 million Americans would lose their coverage from next year under the Republican plan.

"We'll see what happens," Trump said Wednesday during a meeting on health care and women.