US Congress Democrats accused President Donald Trump of “punishing the American people” after he cut government subsidies that underpin the Obamacare health programme.

Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer and House of Representatives leader Nancy Pelosi warned on Thursday night that “millions of hard-working” working-class families would suffer from the “spiteful act.”

Mr Trump’s surprise announcement late on Thursday night stops federal subsidies to insurance companies worth about $9 billion (£7bn) in the coming year.