US president Barack Obama hosted Donald Trump at the White House today to discuss their transition of power. Trump will assume the presidency on Jan. 20.
The pair spoke behind closed doors, but at a press op later, Obama described their 90-minute conversation as “excellent.” Trump said he looked forward to “many, many, many more” meetings with the outgoing president.
During his campaign this year, the Republican presidential-elect has repeatedly vowed to gut Obama’s legacy and repeal his signature 2010 Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare).
Trump has also promised to revoke Obama’s executive orders. As Tim Fernholz wrote:
Obama has used these orders to forestall deportation of the minor children of illegal immigrants; mandate wage increases for government contractors, institute rules regulating greenhouse emissions from power plants, and apply the Family Medical Leave Act to same-sex couples. All of these could, and likely will, be repealed with a stroke of Trump’s pen on his first day in office.
Obama, who campaigned for Trump’s rival Hillary Clinton, has previously described Trump as “insecure” and “careless.” ”It’s always interesting to me to see people who talk tough but don’t act tough,” he said of Trump at a rally for Clinton in mid-October.
After Clinton’s concession on Nov. 9, Obama adopted a more cordial tone, telling reporters, “We’re all rooting for his success.”
Must have been a fun meeting.
