WASHINGTON — Expect the unexpected under the President Donald J. Trump is fast becoming a cliché, but Washington insiders told a packed room of credit union professionals during a GAC break out session that there is nothing more important that the first two years of a president's term.

But with all of the seemingly chaos, mayhem, confusion and controversy emanating from the White House on a daily basis could President Trump be running out of time to push his agenda forward?

Former U.S. Senator Mark Begich of Alaska, said with health care, tax reform, regulation relief and infrastructure spending, all big items on Trump's agenda, time is running out because Congress is only in session for a limited number of days throughout the year to pass new laws.

“All of this stuff starts piling up and then you add in summer break, the president's break, the Fourth of July break, Thanksgiving break and the calendar starts shrinking down,” Begich said. “This is where the challenge is. And somewhere someone has to say — and this is where the president plays a significant role — this is the priority now.”

If there are no deliverables in six months from now, then there could be a troubles for the Trump administration.

Barry Jackson, who worked in the George W. Bush administration, noted there is nothing more important than a president's first two years.

“When you think about Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, in their first term almost anything you think of with their signature items were (accomplished) in those first two years,” Jackson said. “The other thing that tied all four of them together is in their first two years there was a major economic platform. Donald Trump ran on this.”

In 2018, people will say this is a referendum on Donald Trump, which is how the media will report it, but it will actually be a referendum on the 435 members of the House and the 33 Senators, Jackson noted.

Red state Democrats are going to have to make decision on whether they want to march with Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren or do they want to get re-elected and work with Trump.

“Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan both know you've got to get tax code and as much as the regulatory stuff done this year if you want to have any effect on 2018 (midterm elections), it can't wait,” Jackson said.

Jackson also said that over the past 45 days, the Trump administration has been doing aggressive outreach to both Democrats and Republicans in Congress to garner support for the president's priorities.

Instant Insights /

GAC: Is the Trump Agenda Running Out of Time?

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