Mr. Trump pronounced himself happy with the approach he is taking on health care, which has been the most consuming domestic issue of his presidency so far. Were going a little different route, he told an audience of religious conservatives on Friday. But you know what? In the end, its going to be just as effective, and maybe itll even be better.
Later in the day, he acknowledged that his new strategy on Iran would not actually scrap the nuclear deal but would allow Congress to come up with an alternative. Asked why he did not simply terminate the agreement, he said: I may very well do that. But I like a two-step process much better.
Democrats said Mr. Trumps actions were meant to sabotage the health care program and undermine the Iran deal even without full repeal. By cutting subsidies to insurance companies, its clear the president is trying to sabotage the health care market and send costs soaring, said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland denounced what he called the presidents reckless, political decision and his subsequent threat to Congress on the Iran agreement.
Mr. Trump has taken partial steps on other campaign promises as well. He signed an order scrapping his predecessors program granting legal status to as many as 800,000 younger immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children, but delayed the final effect for six months to give Congress a chance to restore it on a more solid legal foundation. Even then, he suggested that he would find another way to preserve the program if Congress did not meet his deadline.
He has boasted that he was reversing Mr. Obamas diplomatic opening to Cuba. But while he has pulled out many diplomats and restored some restrictions on contacts with the island, he has not cut off relations again, closed the embassy or shut down travel and other interactions. He has talked about throwing out Nafta, but has actually left it intact and has taken the route of negotiating to see if it can be retained with improved provisions.
