Donald Trump used a presidential signing statement on the Russia sanctions legislation to whine at Congress for not repealing Obamacare and to brag about his personal wealth.
Here is the closer of Trump’s signing statement which he attached to the Russia sanctions bill that he signed:
Still, the bill remains seriously flawed particularly because it encroaches on the executive branchs authority to negotiate. Congress could not even negotiate a healthcare bill after seven years of talking. By limiting the Executives flexibility, this bill makes it harder for the United States to strike good deals for the American people, and will drive China, Russia, and North Korea much closer together. The Framers of our Constitution put foreign affairs in the hands of the President. This bill will prove the wisdom of that choice.
Yet despite its problems, I am signing this bill for the sake of national unity. It represents the will of the American people to see Russia take steps to improve relations with the United States. We hope there will be cooperation between our two countries on major global issues so that these sanctions will no longer be necessary.
Further, the bill sends a clear message to Iran and North Korea that the American people will not tolerate their dangerous and destabilizing behavior. America will continue to work closely with our friends and allies to check those countries malignant activities.
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I built a truly great company worth many billions of dollars. That is a big part of the reason I was elected. As President, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress.
The battle between the Executive and Legislative branches of our government over control of foreign policy is nothing new, but Trump apparently thinks that part of a “good deal” for the United States involves removing sanctions on Russia. The real reason why Trump is signing the bill isn’t national unity. It is that the country is already unified in favor of the sanctions. If Trump vetoed the bill, his veto would be overridden.
Republicans are going to admit at some point that Trump is not well. Only a crazy person would brag about their wealth in a presidential signing statement. Trump thinks that he won the election because he is rich when the real reason why Trump won is the same Russia scandal that is causing his nearly daily mental meltdowns.
This signing statement is an example of why the vast majority of Americans are embarrassed to have Trump as president.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
