“It’s about time” said President Donald Trump of his executive order that he says will start the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. Trump listed that and several other actions he took during his first week in office as his accomplishments during his first presidential weekly address recorded on Friday morning and released on Saturday.
Trump referenced his order to cut off funding to cities that refuse to have local police act as an arm of the federal government and help identify and depart undocumented immigrants. Without offering any evidence he said “They (the cities) are not safe. We have to take care of that horrible situation.”
Los Angeles leaders have suggested they would mount a legal challenge if federal funding is taken away saying the city doesn’t receive funds for any broad program focused on cooperation between local and federal authorities.
Trump appeared to take delight in the disruption he has caused in his first week in office. “Everybody’s talking about it.”
Video and full transcript of Trump’s first weekly presidential address:
My fellow Americans, one week ago our administration assumed the enormous responsibilities that you the American people have placed in us.
There is much work to do in the days ahead. But I wanted to give you an update on what we have accomplished already.
In my first few days as your president, I’ve met with the leaders of some of our nation’s top manufacturing companies and labor unions. My message was clear. We want to make things in America and we want to use American workers.
Since my election many companies have announced they’re no longer moving jobs out of our country but are instead keeping and creating jobs right here in America.
Every day we are fulfilling the promise we made to the American people. Here are just a few of the executive actions that I have taken in the last few days.
An order to prepare for repealing and replacing Obamacare. It’s about time.
The withdrawal from the trans-pacific partnership so that we can negotiate one-on-one deals that protect American workers. That would have been a disastrous deal for our workers.
An order to begin construction of the Keystone and Dakota Access Pipelines following a renegotiation of terms with a requirement that pipelines installed in America be built with American steel and manufactured here.
A directive to expedite permits for new infrastructure and new manufacturing plants.
An order to immediately begin the border wall and to crack down on sanctuary cities. They are not safe. We have to take care of that horrible situation.
This administration has hit the ground running at a record pace. Everybody’s talking about it. We’re doing it with speed and we’re doing it with intelligence. And we will never ever stop fighting on behalf of the American people.
God bless you. and God bless America.