WASHINGTON- President Donald Trump insisted Monday there is no chaos at the
White House, even as his new chief of staff is entering a West Wing
battered by crisis.
Retired
Gen. John Kelly, previously the Homeland Security secretary, takes over
Monday from the ousted Reince Priebus, bringing his military experience
to an administration weighed down by a stalled legislative agenda, a
cabal of infighting West Wing aides and a stack of investigations.
While
Trump
is looking for a reset, he pushed back against criticism of his
administration on Twitter Monday. He said: "Highest Stock Market EVER,
best economic numbers in years, unemployment lowest in 17 years, wages
raising, border secure, S.C.: No WH chaos!"
Kelly's
success in a chaotic White House will depend on how much authority he
is granted and whether Trump's dueling aides will put aside their
rivalries to work together. Also unclear is whether a new chief of staff
will have any influence over the president's social media histrionics.
Former
Trump campaign manager Cory Lewandowski, who was ousted from the
campaign in June 2016, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he expected
Kelly would "restore order to the staff" but also stressed that Trump
was unlikely to change his style.
"I
say you have to let Trump be Trump. That is what has made him
successful over the last 30 years. That is what the American people
voted for," Lewandowski said. "And anybody who thinks they're going to
change Donald Trump doesn't know Donald Trump."
Kelly's
start follows a tumultuous week, marked by a profane tirade from the
new communications director, Trump's continued attacks on his attorney
general and the failed effort by Senate Republicans to overhaul the
nation's health care law.
In
addition to strain in the West Wing and with Congress, Kelly starts his
new job as tensions escalate with North Korea. The United States flew
two supersonic bombers over the Korean Peninsula on Sunday in a show of
force against North Korea, following the country's latest
intercontinental ballistic missile test. The U.S. also said it conducted
a successful test of a missile defense system located in Alaska.
Sen.
Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that she
hopes Kelly can "be effective," and "begin some very serious negotiation
with the North and stop this program."
Another
diplomatic fissure opened Sunday when Russian President Vladimir Putin
said the U.S. would have to cut its embassy and consulate staff in
Russia by several hundred under new sanctions from Moscow. In a
television interview, Putin indicated the cutback was retaliation for
new sanctions in a bill passed by Congress and sent to Trump.
Trump
plans to sign the measure into law, the White House has said. After
Putin's remarks, the State Department deemed the cutbacks "a regrettable
and uncalled for act" and said officials would assess the impact and
how to respond to it.
While
Trump is trying to refresh his team, he signaled that he does not want
to give up the fight on health care. On Twitter Sunday, he said: "Don't
give up Republican Senators, the World is watching: Repeal &
Replace."
The
protracted health care fight has slowed Trump's other policy goals,
including a tax overhaul and infrastructure investment. But Trump aides
made clear that the president still wanted to see action on health care.
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said on CNN's "State of the
Union," that senators "need to stay, they need to work, they need to
pass something."
Asked
if nothing should be voted on in Congress until the Senate votes again
on health care, Mulvaney said: "well, think — yes. And I think what
you're seeing there is the president simply reflecting the mood of the
people."
On
Saturday, Trump threatened to end required payments to insurance
companies unless lawmakers repeal and replace the Obama-era health care
law. He tweeted that if "a new HealthCare Bill is not approved quickly,
BAILOUTS for Insurance Companies and BAILOUTS for Members of Congress
will end very soon!"
The
payments reduce deductibles and co-payments for consumers with modest
incomes. Trump has guaranteed the payments through July, but has not
made a commitment going forward.
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said on "Fox News Sunday" that Trump would make a decision on the payments this week.
Sen.
Susan Collins, R-Maine, who opposed the efforts to move a health bill
forward this week, said on CNN that cutting the payments would "be
detrimental to some of the most vulnerable citizens" and that the threat
has "contributed to the instability in the insurance market."
The House has begun a five-week recess, while the Senate is scheduled to work two more weeks before a summer break.
(AP)
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