‘Totally prepared’: Trump allies say he’s better positioned than ever to enact agenda

President Donald Trump’s Republican allies in the House are expressing confidence that he is better positioned than ever to enact his legislative agenda, armed with nearly a decade’s worth of knowledge about Washington. They believe that Trump, who is returning to the White House with a triumphant electoral victory, has a sharp understanding of how Capitol Hill and the wider D.C. network works.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., a close ally of Trump who switched parties to better align with him during his first term, believes that Trump has learned from his previous experience. Van Drew stated, \”The first time, he was a great businessman, but he didn’t know Washington. He’s got it down now. He’s totally prepared for this. Last time he was learning. He’s learned. He’s ready to go.\”

Multiple House GOP lawmakers who served in Congress during Trump’s first term echoed Van Drew’s sentiments, describing Trump as a more prepared and seasoned leader. They highlighted Trump’s near-constant communication with Republican lawmakers and his strategic approach to hiring staff members who are aligned with his agenda.

Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., emphasized that Trump understands the challenges of Washington and is focused on addressing them. Perry stated, \”He knows now that Washington is generally going to push back, and they’re going to do what they want to do — whether you call it the deep state or the establishment or the uniparty. He’s very aware, and he’s comporting his actions to address those issues.\”

Upon being sworn in, Trump wasted no time in signing dozens of executive orders to fulfill his campaign promises. He has maintained close communication with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and has engaged with House Republicans to discuss the GOP agenda.

Former Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., noted a significant change in Trump’s approach compared to his first term. Stutzman said, \”This time, he knows Washington, he has a great team he’s pulling together, and I think his team will be that much more disciplined and focused on the four-year window to get as much done as possible.\”

Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., praised Trump’s focus on Congress, stating, \”His first term was clearly a populist campaign. He had really smart people, but they didn’t have any congressional experience. That’s not happening now. They’ve worked very closely with us.\”

Freshman Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo., highlighted Trump’s improved relationship with the media, noting that the media environment has become more receptive to him. Crank stated, \”He sort of broke the media complex. He seemed like – the media folks who in 2016 were resisting him, now they’ve realized, ‘Well, maybe this was censorship that we were doing, and that’s maybe not the best thing for our business model.\”

Longtime ally Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., emphasized that Trump has not changed at his core despite the years he spent out of office. Issa stated, \”There’s no question that he is better than had he raced into a second term. He is the same man, though. He knows what he believes.\”

In conclusion, Trump’s Republican allies are optimistic about his second term, believing that he is well-prepared to navigate the challenges of Washington and advance his legislative agenda. Trump’s experience, strategic approach, and strong communication with lawmakers are seen as key strengths that will enable him to achieve his goals in the coming years.