As Donald Trump enters the Oval Office for his first Monday as President, his first week’s agenda is a whirlwind — and the president has so many things planned, political experts are stunned.
Reports say Trump’s ambitious agenda for his first seven days dwarfs that of his predecessor, former President Barack Obama.
First up: Executive orders withdrawing the United States from the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal. Second: Repealing Obamacare.
And they were both done in the first few minutes.
Trump is also set to meet with congressional leaders from both parties to discuss his sweeping agenda as he enters his first official week in the White House and works to begin delivering on his ambitious campaign promises.
Trump has said that he considers Monday to be his first real day in office. And he’s packing the week with meetings that suggest he’s keeping an open ear.
Busy week planned with a heavy focus on jobs and national security. Top executives coming in at 9:00 A.M. to talk manufacturing in America.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2017
There’s a breakfast and what the White House calls a listening session with business leaders in the morning; another listening session with union leaders and workers in the afternoon; and a reception later on with the members of Congress he’ll need on board to overhaul the nation’s health care system, among other goals. He’ll also hold his first meeting as president with the speaker of the House, Paul Ryan.
Speaking in the White House East Room during a swearing-in ceremony for top aides, the president warned his staff of the challenges ahead but declared he believed they were ready.
“But with the faith in each other and the faith in God, we will get the job done,” he said. “We will prove worthy of this moment in history. And I think it may very well be a great moment in history.”
Trump said his staff was in the White House not to “help ourselves” but to “devote ourselves to the national good.”
“This is not about party, this is not about ideology. This is about country, our country. It’s about serving the American people,” he said.
Earlier Sunday, Trump offered a response to the sweeping post-inauguration protests and defended the right to demonstrate peacefully.
Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017
Trump also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accepted an invitation to visit the White House in early February. The prime minister said he is hoping to forge a “common vision” with the newly inaugurated U.S. president that could include expanded settlement construction and a tougher policy toward Iran.
That’s not all.
Trump also announced that he’s set up meetings quickly with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.
“We’re going to start some negotiations having to do with NAFTA,” he said of his meeting with Pena Nieto. Mexico is part of the free trade agreement with the U.S. and Canada. Trump said he also will discuss immigration and security at the border. He has promised to build a wall along the length of the southern border and insisted that Mexico will pay for it.
His chief of staff, Reince Priebus, said on “Fox News Sunday” the president would spend his first full week in office undoing some of Obama’s agenda and planned to sign executive orders on immigration and trade.
Later in the week, he’ll address congressional Republicans at their retreat in Philadelphia and meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May.
And that’s all in just the first seven days.
The Associated Press contributed to this article