House Republican begs White House to put 'more thought' into major decisions

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) tried her best to defend President Donald Trump's policies when pressed on the administration's cratering poll numbers by CNN's Boris Sanchez on Monday afternoon — but even she admitted that Trump needs to start making decisions more carefully and deliberately.

"I quickly just want to get your reaction to that polling," said Sanchez. "Four months in, Trump, as you heard there, underwater on a number of issues, including a career low on his handling of the economy. I'm sure you've also seen how voters at town halls are expressing themselves. How much do these numbers concern you?"

"Look, I'm not exactly sure who they've asked, but I know the people in my district are very pleased, for the most part, the majority of the — of the constituents are pleased when we they saw that the president immediately secured the border, that they've started closing those migrant shelters in New York City that taxpayers were funding, and they were being filled, quite frankly, with many criminals."

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She went on to add that her constituents are happy with Trump's performance on a number of other issues, including "hostages that have been returning home," and denied Trump is causing significant problems for the economy: "We're seeing trillions of dollars in private investment from companies, both foreign and domestic, who are expanding their facilities, who are creating jobs, and that's all positive too."

"Now, yes, some people may be concerned because a lot has happened too — I've said it before on your show — fast and furiously," said Malliotakis. "Sometimes there needs to be a little more thought and deliberation behind some of these decisions, particularly some of the cuts we're seeing. But we have to also reassure the public that the president has said there will be no cuts to Social Security, to Medicare, to Medicaid, and that we're going to go after the waste, fraud, and abuse."

Notably, the recently passed GOP budget framework enables Medicaid cuts, specifically directing the House Energy and Commerce Committee to identify $880 billion in savings over the next decade from programs under its jurisdiction, including Medicaid.

But Malliotakis downplayed such concerns.

"So right now, I think there is a lot of fearmongering out there coming from the left with regards to those issues," said Malliotakis. "They keep saying that cuts are going to be made that won't be made, and when people see that ... his numbers will go back up. And also the decision to pause the tariffs, I think, was a positive thing as well."

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