Rep. Mike Kelly is frustrated by his Republican colleagues’ resistance to President Trump.
Whether on healthcare reform, the promised tax overhaul, or government spending, the Pennsylvania Republican said Trump’s first 100 days in office were a smashing success.
The rest of his party on Capitol Hill, whether hard-nosed conservatives or centrists concerned about re-election, need to understand that the president is delivering on his campaign promises, and that so much more success awaits if they can just work together with the administration.
“Congress needs to do a better job in understanding the reason Donald Trump is our president,” Kelly said in an interview with the Washington Examiner. “My request of my colleagues is, all the time, you keep pushing back against him. Why?”
Kelly represents the kind of blue-collar Pennsylvania district that helped make Trump president, was an early supporter. Even still, the career automobile dealer said the commander in chief has surpassed his expectations. “I feel so much better today than when he first decided to run.”
Trump has come under criticism, including from Republicans, for mishandling healthcare negotiations and blustering too much on a government funding bill before backing down to Democratic demands.
Kelly countered that there’s nothing wrong with Trump’s approach. Rather, members of Congress need to come around to the president’s private sector approach, honed by a career in real estate development and entertainment as a reality television personality. That’s what Kelly’s voters want, at least.
“They’re saying, we know he can’t do some of these things by himself. There’s a feeling back home that he’s not getting the support he should have, and we don’t like the way the inside game is working against him,” Kelly said.
