President Trump will embark Monday on a week crammed with events leading up to his 100th day in office, including dinner with the Supreme Court, executive orders on energy independence and relief for rural America, a high-level briefing for senators on North Korea nuclear weapons program, and speeches at the National Holocaust Museum and at a National Rifle Association forum.
By his 100th day on Saturday, the White House said, Mr. Trump will have issued 32 executive orders — the most by a president since World War II. It’s also in part a reflection of Mr. Trump’s difficulties so far in getting major legislation through Congress, where he faces a Friday deadline to reach a spending deal to stave off a government shutdown.
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus pushed back Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on criticism that Mr. Trump hasn’t had major legislative achievements in his first 100 days.
“Barack Obama had a pre-baked stimulus package that started in October … passed in February [2009], it was pre-baked,” Mr. Priebus said. “George Bush didn’t get any major legislation until June [2001]. [Bill] Clinton, August 10th [1993]. … Here is the deal, the president signed over 28 bills already. Health care [repeal of Obamacare] may happen next week; it may not. We’re hopeful it will.”
He also said the administration is negotiating in the current spending bill “one of the biggest increases in military spending in decades. So, he is fulfilling his promises and doing it at breakneck speed.”
Forty-five percent of Americans in a new NBC/Wall Street Journal survey said they believe Mr. Trump is off to a poor start, with an additional 19 percent who say it’s been “only a fair start.” A combined 35 percent think the president’s first three months in office have been either “good” or “great.”
During this week, Cabinet secretaries will fan out across the country to hold events in various cities, such as Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon traveling to Orlando, Florida, to attend a roundtable with Hispanic business owners.
Cabinet members and other top administration aides will also be conducting a media blitz, giving interviews to regional and other media outlets to highlight the president’s first 100 days.
“Throughout this week President Trump will continue to deliver on his promises to the American people, from thinking big about exploration and discovery again, to protecting the farmers and ranchers that feed our country, to reasserting American power on the world stage,” a White House official said.
On Monday, Mr. Trump will speak with NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson in an Earth-to-space call to congratulate her on her record-breaking stay aboard the International Space Station. The 20-minute call will be carried live on NASA Television and stream on the agency’s website and Facebook page at 10 a.m.
The White House said Mr. Trump will discuss “the importance of empowering women “to pursue educations and careers in STEM fields.”
Mr. Trump also will host a reception with conservative media, followed by dinner with Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
On Tuesday, the president will speak at the National Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Day of Remembrance, and issue an executive order intended to “protect and provide relief for rural America,” the White House said.
The president will outline his principles for tax reform on Wednesday, hoping to give momentum to a key priority with an uncertain timetable. The White House also will host senators on Wednesday for a briefing on North Korea with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph F. Dunford Jr.
On Thursday, while Mr. Trump is hosting the president of Argentina at the White House, the Department of Homeland Security will roll out the Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement Office, “fulfilling a promise the [resident made both on the campaign trail and with one of his first executive orders,” the White House said. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson will hold a “listening tour” on urban housing in Columbus, Ohio.
The president’s dinner with the entire Supreme Court will take place Thursday night, on the heels of his successful nomination of Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch.
On Friday, the White House said Mr. Trump “will move our country even further toward our goal of energy independence” by signing several executive orders on energy. He will also address the National Rifle Association’s leadership forum in Atlanta.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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