Updated
Great President or greatest? That appeared to be the
question at US President Donald Trump's first meeting of his full
Cabinet, as top aides took turns piling praise on the boss.
"We
have much great news to share with the American people today, as we
continue to deliver on our promises," Mr Trump said in his opening
remarks."Never has there been a president, with few exceptions, the case of FDR — he had a major Depression to handle — who's passed more legislation, who's done more things than we've done"
However, so far no major legislation has made its way through Congress, and the meeting coincided with another legal set back to Mr Trump's sweeping ban on immigration.
The meeting came as the White House struggles to advance its agenda amid the investigations into Russia's election meddling and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.
After Mr Trump commended the achievements of his young administration, his Cabinet added more accolades.
Members of Mr Trump's Cabinet were encouraged to break the ice by going around the room introducing themselves with their name — after which they appeared to emphatically list the "best things" about working under Mr Trump.
Here's exactly what they had to say:
Vice-President Mike Pence:
"This job is the greatest privilege of my life."
Attorney-General Jeff Sessions said on behalf of law enforcement officers:
"I'm are so thrilled that we have a new idea that we're going to support them."
Energy Secretary Rick Perry gave his "hats off" to Mr Trump for taking a stand against the Paris climate accord.
"You [Mr Trump] are sending a clear message around the world."
Chief of Staff Reince Priebus:
"On behalf of the entire senior staff around you, Mr President, we thank you for the opportunity and the blessing that you've given us to serve your agenda."
Labor secretary Alexander Acosta:
"Thank you [Mr Trump] for your commitment to the American workers."
UN Ambassador for the United States, Nikki Haley:
"People know what the United States is for, they know what we're against, and they see us leading across the board."
Photo:
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price had nothing but praise for Mr Trump. (AP: Andrew Harnik)
White House budget director, Mick Mulvaney:
"With your direction we were able to focus on the forgotten man and woman."
Health and Human Services secretary, Tom Price:
"I can't thank you enough for the privileges you've given me."
Transportation Secretary, Elaine Chao:
"I want to thank you for getting this country moving again and also working again,"
Secretary of the Treasury, Steve Muchin:
"Thank you Mr President for the great honour of travelling with you around the country for the last year, and an even greater honour to be here serving in your cabinet."While Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross offered thanks "for the opportunity to help fix the trade deficit".
Meeting panned as 'bizzare'
Video: Senator Chuck Schumer and staff members parody Donald Trump's cabinet meeting (ABC News)
The meeting was panned by US media as "bizarre" and caught the ire of Twitter users who were quick to draw similarities between the Cabinet meeting and the last ditch attempts of The Apprentice contestants fighting for their lives in Mr Trump's boardroom.
That Trump cabinet meeting was like an episode of The Apprentice. Except no one was fired...yet.
Within a matter of hours, the Senate's top Democrat Chuck Schumer shared a parody video of the meeting in which he and staff members interacted in a way meant to evoke Mr Trump.
"You have great hair," one staffer is heard saying in the video. "Nobody has better hair than you."
Glenn Thrush
This
interminable cabinet spray, where everybody pays tribute to Trump, is
one of the most exquisitely awkward public events I've ever seen.
AP/ABC
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