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Trump Praises House Republican Leaders on Health Bill Trump, Days After Accusations Against Obama, Keeps a Low Profile
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — President Trump capped the most low-key week of his presidency on Friday by meeting with House Republican leaders to congratulate them on their bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. WASHINGTON — President Trump was intent on keeping a conspicuously low profile on Friday — after his Twitter attack last weekend on President Barack Obama — and his staff loudly enforced the president’s newfound silent treatment of the news media.
Mr. Trump has been noticeably less accessible since unleashing a series of posts on Twitter last weekend accusing President Barack Obama of bugging Trump Tower during the presidential campaign, abandoning for the first time his nearly daily ritual of chatting up reporters before meetings and other events at the White House. Mr. Trump has been noticeably less accessible since unleashing a series of posts last weekend accusing Mr. Obama of bugging Trump Tower during the campaign, for the first time abandoning his near-daily ritual of chatting up reporters before meetings and other events at the White House.
On Friday, Mr. Trump convened what was billed as a strategy session in the Roosevelt Room with Vice President Mike Pence; Representative Diane Black, Republican of Tennessee, the Budget Committee chairwoman; Representative Kevin Brady, Republican of Texas, the Ways and Means Committee chairman; Representative Greg Walden, Republican of Washington, the Energy and Commerce Committee chairman; and several other key Republicans. During a meeting on the repealing of the Affordable Care Act with House Republican leaders, Mr. Trump briefly spoke with reporters in the Roosevelt Room but did not answer questions.
The Republican bill — which White House officials have described as a “work in progress” most likely to undergo significant change — cleared the Ways and Means and the Energy Committees on Thursday after nightlong sessions to review and amend the proposal earlier in the week. After he was done, a member of his personal security detail began yelling for the small pool of print and broadcast reporters to clear out of the room quickly, according to a pool report, echoing the sometimes heavy-handed approach of Mr. Trump’s team during his campaign rallies.
The measure, which faces potential opposition from at least three Senate Republicans and the House’s ultraconservative Freedom Caucus, is expected to pass the Budget Committee soon and then be voted on by the House within the next two weeks. Mr. Trump thanked the gathering of committee chairmen for their “devotion and leadership,” which he said “has been amazing.”
He also applauded their “diligent work to advance the Obamacare repeal and replacement.”
“That’s what people want: They want repeal and replace,” he added.
The president, according to the pool report, “did not seem certain that the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday had approved the House health overhaul plan” but “verified it with Rep. Greg Walden,” an Oregon Republican and chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
“We all remember, ‘You can keep your doctor, you can keep your plan.’ I know, Greg, you’ve never heard that, right?” Mr. Trump said. “It was said many, many times, and it turned out to be not true. This is the time we’re going to get it done.”
“You have tremendous spirit,” Mr. Trump added. “I think it’s just something that’s going to happen very shortly.”
Also in attendance were the White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus; Vice President Mike Pence; Representative Diane Black, Republican of Tennessee, the Budget Committee chairwoman; Representative Kevin Brady, Republican of Texas, the Ways and Means Committee chairman; and several other key Republicans.
On Thursday, the Republican bill — which White House officials have described as a “work in progress” that is likely to undergo significant change — cleared the Ways and Means and the Energy and Commerce Committees after nightlong sessions to review and amend the proposal earlier in the week.
The measure, which faces potential opposition from at least three Senate Republicans and the House’s conservative Freedom Caucus, is expected to pass the Budget Committee soon and then be voted on by the House at large in the next two weeks.
The meeting at the White House came as the president’s staff was celebrating the federal jobs report released on Friday, which covered Mr. Trump’s first full month in office. In February, the economy added a better-than-expected 235,000 jobs, which prompted a renewed round of jubilant posts on Twitter by some on the president’s team.The meeting at the White House came as the president’s staff was celebrating the federal jobs report released on Friday, which covered Mr. Trump’s first full month in office. In February, the economy added a better-than-expected 235,000 jobs, which prompted a renewed round of jubilant posts on Twitter by some on the president’s team.
Dan Scavino Jr., director of the White House social media operation, posted the number “235” on Twitter with an American flag. Dan Scavino Jr., director of the White House social media operation, posted “235K” on Twitter with an American flag.
“Great news for American workers,” the White House press secretary Sean Spicer posted, “in first report for @POTUS Trump.” The White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, posted, “Great news for American workers.”
During Mr. Obama’s tenure, his aides were chastened by the volatility of the jobs reports during the 2009 recession and the grinding recovery, and so were reluctant to celebrate for fear of alienating the public, which was still dealing with stagnant wages and an uncertain future.During Mr. Obama’s tenure, his aides were chastened by the volatility of the jobs reports during the 2009 recession and the grinding recovery, and so were reluctant to celebrate for fear of alienating the public, which was still dealing with stagnant wages and an uncertain future.
Mr. Trump and his team have been less circumspect. Mr. Trump often questioned the veracity of the Bureau of Labor Statistics report during the 2016 campaign, when job growth often exceeded 200,000 a month, arguing that the statistics were rigged to make Democrats look better.Mr. Trump and his team have been less circumspect. Mr. Trump often questioned the veracity of the Bureau of Labor Statistics report during the 2016 campaign, when job growth often exceeded 200,000 a month, arguing that the statistics were rigged to make Democrats look better.
Before he was elected, Mr. Trump dismissed the official data as “phony” and “fiction,” while arguing — without evidence — that the unemployment rate was as high as 42 percent.Before he was elected, Mr. Trump dismissed the official data as “phony” and “fiction,” while arguing — without evidence — that the unemployment rate was as high as 42 percent.
There was no hint of that skepticism this morning. At 8:41 a.m., less than an hour after the February numbers posted, Mr. Trump retweeted a Drudge Report headline that read: “GREAT AGAIN +235,000.” There was no hint of that skepticism on Friday morning. At 8:41 a.m., less than an hour after the February numbers posted, Mr. Trump retweeted a Drudge Report headline that read: “GREAT AGAIN +235,000.”
The posts by Mr. Trump and Mr. Spicer may have violated a federal rule barring executive branch employees from publicly commenting on principal economic indicators for at least one hour after the official release time.The posts by Mr. Trump and Mr. Spicer may have violated a federal rule barring executive branch employees from publicly commenting on principal economic indicators for at least one hour after the official release time.