White House chief of Staff Reince Priebus fervently pushed back Sunday against criticism that President Trump has accomplished little in his first 100 days in office.
Priebus told NBC’s Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press” that even though the president hasn’t had a major legislative win he has still accomplished a lot. Trump will have been in office for 100 days on April 29.
“He is fulfilling his promises and doing it at breakneck speed,” Priebus said, adding that a vote on healthcare reform may happen next week. However, House Speaker Paul Ryan told Republicans during a conference call Saturday that such a vote isn’t happening next week.
In addition, Congress and the White House have to reach a deal to fund the government by April 28.
Priebus added that it isn’t a big deal that Trump didn’t have a major legislative win, despite Trump’s promises while on the campaign trail of major legislative achievements during his first 100 days, such as repealing Obamacare.
Priebus noted that former President Barack Obama did get a win on the stimulus package but talks on that legislation started in October. Former President George W. Bush didn’t get major legislation done until June and Bill Clinton not until August, he added.
But Todd noted that Trump is far behind on nominating people for government positions. He said that Trump has only nominated 45 people, compared to 190 for Obama and 85 for Bush.
Priebus pushed back and said that the reason is because Democrats are obstructing good nominees in the Senate, to which Todd responded that these are positions that don’t have a nominee yet.
Priebus said that because it took so long for nominees to be confirmed by the Senate that it is taking more time for those nominees to choose who they want to serve under them. Then those positions need to go through background checks and other security clearances.
“We are behind, but because of historical unbelievable actions from U.S. senators,” he said.
A statement from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office laid the blame at the White House.
“Because of the White House’s glacial pace, there are hundreds and hundreds of Senate confirmable positions without any pending nominee from the administration, and just seven pending nominees before the Senate,” Schumer spokesman Matt House said. “Once again, instead of pointing fingers of blame, the administration ought to roll up their sleeves and send qualified nominees to the Senate.”
