Trump ‘disappointed’ in GOP Congress as he hits 100-day mark
US President Donald Trump says he is “disappointed” with how the Republican-controlled Congress has handled his legislative agenda during his first 100 days in office.
In an interview with Fox News on Friday, Trump said he was “disappointed” that Congress had failed to deal with “big issues” facing the country.
However, Trump touted the relationships he had made with some congressional Republicans.
“I have great relationships, don’t forget most of them I didn’t even know,” Trump told said.
The comments came after the White House pushed for a vote on a healthcare measure this week, but Republican leaders decided against it.
“I’m disappointed that it doesn’t go quicker,” Trump said about the legislative process, acknowledging that, “It is a very tough system.”
Republicans’ biggest push since Trump took office on January 20 has been to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act — former President Barack Obama’s landmark healthcare law known as Obamacare.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan had to pull the alternative legislation, the American Health Care Act, from the House floor last month minutes before a vote was scheduled because of opposition from the conservative Freedom Caucus.
Attempts at bringing the bill back to the floor have so far failed despite pressure from the White House.
Lawmakers reached a new agreement this week, but this time it ran into opposition from moderate Republicans.
That means Trump, who has frequently boasted about being a deal maker, is concluding his first 100 days in office without a major legislative accomplishment.
A ban on the entry of travelers from Muslim nations was overturned in the courts, while the promised construction of a wall on the Mexican border has hit roadblocks.
Trump’s tax plan, hastily unveiled this past week, has also been criticized as a multi-billion-dollar giveaway to the rich that would only add to the national debt.
Trump, however, vigorously defended his time in office in his weekly address on Friday.
“The first 100 days of my administration has been just about the most successful in our country’s history,” he said.
“I don’t think anybody has done what we’ve been able to do in 100 days, so we’re very happy,” Trump told reporters.
