Reince Priebus, a former Republican executive, expressed that President Trump is fulfilling his promises by shaking up trade relations with the federal government. During a panel discussion on Sunday, where he reflected on his past role as Chief of Staff—he was ousted in July 2017—Priebus remarked that Trump is indeed “doing all the things he said he wanted to do.”
According to Priebus, Trump is disrupting trade with the implementation of tariffs, believing these actions won’t negatively affect federal operations, which he claims is part of Trump’s commitment.
In a somewhat hesitant appraisal, Priebus noted that while he doesn’t want to overtly criticize Trump, there’s a sense that Trump is experimenting, or “touching the fire.” He emphasized that Trump often reevaluates his strategies, suggesting there’s more to his actions than meets the eye.
Priebus also mentioned that Trump’s electoral win highlights the significance of opposition in politics, indicating that visuals, like a photo of Kamala Harris in the show’s graphics, play a role in shaping the narrative. He pointed out that Americans have choices and have made it clear they don’t want to head in a certain direction anymore.
He characterized Trump’s agenda as a substantial rebuke to established institutions, referencing Trump’s earlier remarks following the appointment of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FLA) as attorney general, calling it a “big middle finger” to the DOJ and FBI.
Following backlash, Trump eventually appointed Florida Attorney General Pam Bondy (R) instead.
