President Trump spent Tuesday talking with Republican senators about reviving his stalled legislative agenda, something that’s been overshadowed by the daily distractions caused by the Russia investigation and the firing of former FBI Director James Comey.
“A very big focus for us over the next short period of time are going to be tax cuts, tax reform,” the president said during lunch with lawmakers in the Roosevelt Room. “We’re going to be putting in a very major infrastructure plan and, for this group in particular, we’re going to be focused on Obamacare repeal and replace.”
The president did not respond when a reporter asked if Robert Mueller, the special counsel in the Russia investigation, should be fired, amid a claim from Trump friend Chris Ruddy who says the president has considered the option.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is expected to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday afternoon.
The White House invited thirteen Republican senators to lunch with the president, including Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, South Dakota Sen. John Thune, Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner, Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst and Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch.
“I’d like to thank all of the senators who I have so much respect for. I’ve gotten to know and love some of them and know and like others,” Trump said to laughter. “But I have great relationships with every one of them.”
The president, speaking of the attempt to repeal former President Barack Obama’s healthcare bill, said the “Senate is working very, very hard.”
“And the results are going to be fantastic and hopefully it will be announced at the appropriate time and everyone’s going to be happy,” Trump said of a healthcare bill, which he said will be “generous, kind with heart” and said Republicans “may be adding additional money into it.”
The president continued to label Democrats as “obstructionists.”
“Even their new motto, ‘resist,’ and I guess it’s a pretty accurate motto,” he said. “Every time I see it I say, ‘that’s right, that does represent the Democrats.’ It’s called ‘resist.’ And it’s very unfortunate.”
Trump also made the point that it’s almost the two-year anniversary of him announcing his run for president. “Don’t forget on June 16th — June 14th is my birthday — but June 16th was the day I announced I was running. Some people said ‘really? That’s going to happen?’ And it happened…So we’re very happy about that.”
