House Freedom Caucus leaders Mark Meadows, R-N.C., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, praised Donald Trump on Thursday as a “conservative” president, even as Trump continues to criticize them for not supporting the GOP’s plan to repeal and replace Obamacare.
“I think that Donald Trump is a conservative based on the Cabinet members he’s picked, the Supreme Court nominee that he nominated, the budget he put forth,” Meadows said in an interview with the Washington Examiner.
“All the indications early on is that President Trump is a conservative based on the actions he’s taken,” Meadows said.
Jordan agreed, and cited two key appointments as proof that Trump is a real conservative.
“Neil Gorsuch and Jeff Sessions, right?” Jordan said.
“I mean, think if it’s Hillary Clinton,” he added. “You’ve got a Justice Department that remains politically focused all the time. And you get … who knows who’d she’d nominate for the Supreme Court.”
Trump surprised Republicans Thursday by saying voters have to “fight” Freedom Caucus members because they’re blocking his agenda.
The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don’t get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2017
But Meadows and Jordan said Thursday that they’re still willing to work with Trump on a healthcare bill, and could support the bill if two additional Obamacare entitlements were eliminated under the legislation.
