power and party cohesion at its strongest.

In spite of all of this, Mr Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan and the Republicans running Washington could not get the job done. The president tried to lay the blame at the feet of the Democratic House minority. Nobody will buy that.

For Republicans Friday wasn't just bad. It was a disaster. Here are five reasons why.

A busted dealmaker

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption President Trump 'open' to healthcare deal with Democrats

Donald Trump staked his reputation as a dealmaker - as a "closer" in the words of press secretary Sean Spicer - on getting the healthcare bill through the House of Representatives.

The president sang the bill's praises on Twitter, in press events and at campaign-style rallies.

On Friday Spicer told reportersand they ignored him.

Just over two months into his presidency, and Mr Trump's poll numbers are sagging, his agenda is on the ropes and his power is greatly diminished.

How much has Trump achieved so far?

A powerless speaker

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Paul Ryan: "I won't sugar coat this. This is disappointing"

If it was a bad day for the president, it was a terrible day for Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, whose inability to control his congressional cohort was exposed for all to see.

As he stood before the cameras explaining the defeat, he looked and sounded like the coach of a team that had just lost a big game it had been favoured to win.

"We came really close," he said, "but we came up