Trump ready to lead, new chief of staff says
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – President-elect Donald Trump is prepared to lead America and the Republican-controlled Congress is ready to work with him, his new chief of staff Reince Priebus said Monday.
In his first 100 days in office Trump wants to address fighting illegal immigration, cutting taxes, “getting his arms around” US foreign policy and America’s place in the world, and changing President Barack Obama’s landmark health care law, Priebus told ABC.
“I think we have an opportunity to do all of those things, given the fact that we have the House and the Senate and we have an eager Congress ready to get work done,” Priebus said.
Trump himself said Sunday in his first interview since his stunning upset election win last week over Hillary Clinton that he plans to move aggressively in pursuing a conservative agenda.
The interview on the CBS programme “60 Minutes” provided Trump with his first post-election forum to talk about what he will do after taking office January 20.
It also allowed him to try to reintroduce himself after an ugly, name-calling campaign has sparked protests in cities across the United States.
Trump, 70, is a real estate developer with no experience at all in government, and during the campaign he showed little familiarity with foreign or domestic policy issues, speaking only in generalities as he pledged to revive the economy and otherwise “make America great again”.
Priebus on Monday was asked about a Wall Street journal report that Obama plans to spend more time with Trump than is common in US presidential transitions because he thinks Trump needs more guidance.
The two men met at the White House last week to start talking about the handover of power.
“What I see is a president-elect that is getting prepared,” said Priebus, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee and one of many in the party who clashed with Trump during the campaign.
“I see a staff in New York that is very busy doing the best job that they can for the American people,” Priebus said.
“And I see President-elect Trump being very calm and cool and collected – and prepared to lead the American people.”
