GOP lawmaker taunts House conservatives: Trump’s base is not ‘small faction of obstructionists’

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) is warning the House Freedom Caucus against blocking President Trump’s agenda, telling the conservative lawmakers that Trump’s base is not a “small faction of obstructionists.”

“Memo to Freedom Caucus: Trump base is the American people not a small faction of obstructionists!” the GOP lawmaker tweeted early Thursday.

“Kudos to @POTUS Trump,” he added.

Memo to Freedom Caucus: Trump base is the American people not a small faction of obstructionists! Kudos to @POTUS Trump.

— Rep. Pete King (@RepPeteKing) September 14, 2017

King’s tweet followed reports that Trump and top Democrats discussed protections for young immigrants at a dinner Wednesday night. 

{mosads}Members of the conservative group have pushed back against reports that legislation protecting young immigrants led by Democrats would be voted on the House floor, saying Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) made assurances that wouldn’t happen.

“That’s a promise he made. He’s gotta figure out whether he’s going to stay with that promise or not,” the group’s chairman, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), said last week.

“There was a concern that Democrat-led legislation would get on the floor, and he made a commitment that that would not happen,” he added.

Trump himself has attacked the Freedom Caucus on Twitter, warning that the group could “hurt the entire Republican agenda.”

“The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don’t get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!” Trump tweeted in March.

One member of the group responded in some of the strongest language against Trump from his own party.

“It didn’t take long for the swamp to drain President Trump,” tweeted Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), a Freedom Caucus member.

“Most people don’t take well to being bullied,” he added at the time. Asked whether Trump’s attacks were “constructive,” Amash replied:  “It’s constructive in fifth grade. It may allow a child to get his way, but that’s not how our government works.”