President Obama has signed several executive orders the past eight years, most controversially his action to protect 4 million illegal immigrants from deportation (though the Supreme Court blocked it.) At the time, he seemed pleased with himself for being able to bypass Congress. Yet, the 44th president is now telling his successor not to follow his lead when it comes to enacting an ambitious agenda.
In an interview with NPR, Obama told President-elect Donald Trump to avoid executive action if he can help it.
“Going through the legislative process is always better in part because it’s harder to undo,” he said.
The president emphasized this point, arguing that he only went the route of executive orders after tirelessly trying to compromise with a Republican-held Congress.
We compiled a list of Obama executive orders that Trump will have the opportunity to dismantle, as he vowed to do on the campaign trail.
Asked how Obama feels about that, he said, "That's part of the democratic process."
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