WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump turned on the charm with congressional leaders as they witnessed him nominating his Cabinet.
“Where’s the health care bill?” Trump joked during his first official act as president.
Seated at a desk in an ornate room steps from the Senate floor, Trump the showman emerged, giving running commentary as he went. He joshed about his proposed repeal of President Barack Obama’s health care law as he signed legislation granting a special waiver so James Mattis can become Pentagon chief despite having recently served as a general in the Marines. (The job is supposed to be held by a civilian for at least seven years.)
Trump also signed the nominations of Cabinet picks including former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as secretary of state and Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., to head the CIA.
The president distributed pens to congressional leaders according to whether they liked his choices. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, for instance, received the pen with which Trump nominated Elaine Chao, McConnell’s wife, to be secretary of transportation. But only after top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi of California, Trump’s initial choice to receive the pen, stepped aside. “The leader should have Elaine,” Trump acknowledged.