Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump listens to a question during a joint
- President Donald Trump defended his ability to understand "the big bills" in Congress, saying he knew them better "than any president that's ever been in office."
- Trump specifically extolled his knowledge on healthcare and tax reform.
- He also called out Democrats for not being willing enough to work with him on bipartisan legislation.
President Donald Trump responded to claims that he does not have a solid handle on congressional legislation by saying he understands it better "than any president that's ever been in office."
"I know the details of taxes better than anybody," the president told The New York Times. "Better than the greatest CPA. I know the details of healthcare better than most, better than most."
Trump said his in-depth knowledge of such legislation goes deeper than healthcare and taxes, stating that he understands all the "the big bills" on the floor of Congress better than "than any president that's ever been in office."
The president also mentioned his willingness to work with Democrats on legislation in the near future, but lamented what he characterized as their inability to follow through on promises of bipartisanship of their own. Trump called out one Democrat in particular.
"Like Joe Manchin," Trump said, referring to the Democratic senator from West Virginia. "He talks. But he doesn't do anything. He doesn't do. Hey, let's get together, let's do bipartisan.' I say, 'Good, let's go.' Then you don't hear from him again."
Manchin is a centrist Democrat who told Politico last week that Trump has repeatedly put pressure on him to switch parties, vote to repeal Obamacare, and support the Republican tax bill. Manchin also said Trump warned him that he would face a tough reelection campaign in 2018.
But Manchin said he remains undeterred.
"I'm not worried at all," the senator said. "Not one iota am I worried."