President Trump’s Republican Allies Say He’s Better Positioned Than Ever to Enact His Legislative Agenda
President Donald Trump’s Republican allies in the House say he is better positioned than ever to enact his legislative agenda, citing his near decade-long experience in Washington. According to Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., Trump is “totally prepared” to tackle the country’s issues.
During his first term, Trump was a great businessman, but he didn’t know Washington. Now, he has learned the ins and outs of the capital and is armed with a sharp understanding of how Capitol Hill and the wider D.C. network works. Multiple House GOP lawmakers who served in Congress during Trump’s first term described a man who is returning to D.C. both with a triumphant electoral victory and a newfound sophistication.
Trump’s allies say he is returning to D.C. with a new mindset, understanding that Washington is prone to pushing back against his agenda. He is now taking steps to address this by surrounding himself with the right people and staying in close communication with Republican lawmakers.
Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., noted that Trump understands that personnel is policy and is trying to get the right people in place to advance his agenda. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., said that Trump is much closer to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., than he was to former Speaker Paul Ryan, indicating that he has a better understanding of how to work with Congress.
Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., stated that Trump’s focus on Congress has improved significantly, citing the fact that he is surrounded by a team with congressional experience. Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo., agreed, saying that the media environment is now more receptive to Trump’s message.
Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., both emphasized that while Trump has improved his understanding of Washington, he remains the same at his core, sticking to his principles and values. They believe that his second term will be more productive and successful due to his increased knowledge and experience.
