The US Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared inclined towards the former President Barack Obama’s health care program and seemed to reject arguments of President Donald Trump’s administration, reported AFP.

Five of the nine justices appeared unreceptive to the lawsuit that argued the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional because of legal questions over consumer penalties, which are already neutered by legislation.

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While the nine justices won’t reveal their opinion before a decision is rendered, the hearing was seen as a major defeat for the Republicans, who aimed to end the popular Democratic program.

Four years ago, Trump pledged to end the ACA, the decision that threatened Obama’s signature attempt to extend health insurance to millions of Americans who could not afford it.

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Under the ACA, poor adults have access to the Medicare program normally open only to retired people over 65, young people under 26 can be covered by their parents’ insurance and people whose preexisting medical conditions led to their being denied commercial health insurance have coverage.

Neither Republicans nor the president offered alternatives to the ACA until now.