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Donald Trump Says Feuds With Lawmakers Can Help His Agenda

(Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
(Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump may be using his public spats with Congress as a whip to get his agenda moving.

During an interview with Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo, Trump defended his public feuds with Republican lawmakers, saying that the confrontations “help” his agenda. The two-part interview is scheduled to air on Sunday and Monday, but a transcript of the show was published Friday.

When asked whether his recent “bickering and feuding” with Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) hurt the White House’s agenda, Trump replied: “Sometimes it helps, to be honest with you. So we’ll see what happens in the end,” according to a transcript of the interview.

“But I think actually sometimes it helps,” Trump said of the feuding. “Sometimes it gets people to do what they’re supposed to be doing. And, you know, that’s the way it is.”

Trump has been known to use his Twitter account to publicly insult, shame or criticize those who challenge his administration, but lately his high-profile spats have broadened to include lawmakers within his own party.

Trump has aimed his frustration at McCain after the Republican senator voted against the GOP’s efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare. And, most recently, Trump has been exchanging insults with Corker, who has gone from Trump ally to questioning the president’s stability and competence.

Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, has since ramped up his criticisms against the president after announcing he would not seek reelection next year.

During his interview with Bartiromo, Trump also defended his use of social media, saying that platforms like Twitter allow him to respond to criticism quickly and directly.

“When somebody says something about me, I am able to go bing, bing, bing, and I take care of it,” the president said. “The other way, I would never be getting the word out.”

Asked about his tweets that have nothing to do with his agenda, Trump suggested he does it to keep people engaged.

“You know, you have to keep people interested. But, social media, without social media, I am not sure that would be here talking,” he said.

Trump’s tweets have attacked a wide variety of people, entities and ideas. From his Twitter account, he’s continuously bashing the news media, Democrats and the Republicans who criticize him.

Other people Trump has recently feuded with include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) (for creating “a mess” with the federal debt limit), Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) (who’s been critical of Trump) and NFL athletes (for peacefully protesting police brutality during the national anthem).

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With few legislative accomplishments under his belt, President <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/topic/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> has repeatedly turned to executive orders ― a tool once maligned by Republicans ― to undo much of former President Barack Obama&rsquo;s <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/topic/obama-legacy">regulatory legacy</a>. While some have been consequential ― like approving the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline ― <a href="http://data.huffingtonpost.com/2017/trump-executive-orders">many of Trump&rsquo;s orders have been symbolic</a>,&nbsp;like one minimizing the &ldquo;burden&rdquo; of Obamacare regulations. <br /><br />Trump appears to enjoy the act of signing executive orders and bills more than any of his recent predecessors. While other presidents have also ceremoniously signed documents, Trump regularly holds up his work&nbsp;for photo opportunities.
Trump signs an executive order entitled&nbsp;"Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch" on March 13, 2017.
Trump signs an executive order entitled "Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch" on March 13, 2017.
Trump shows the signed executive order supporting black colleges and universities in the Oval Office of the White House&nbsp;on Feb.&nbsp;28, 2017.
Trump shows the signed executive order supporting black colleges and universities in the Oval Office of the White House on Feb. 28, 2017.
Trump, flanked by business leaders, signs an executive order establishing regulatory reform officers and task forces in U.S. agencies on Feb.&nbsp;24, 2017.
Trump, flanked by business leaders, signs an executive order establishing regulatory reform officers and task forces in U.S. agencies on Feb. 24, 2017.
Trump holds up a signed executive order entitled "Preventing Violence Against Federal, State, Tribal and Local Law Enforcement Officers" in the Oval Office on Feb. 9, 2017.&nbsp;
Trump holds up a signed executive order entitled "Preventing Violence Against Federal, State, Tribal and Local Law Enforcement Officers" in the Oval Office on Feb. 9, 2017. 
Trump signs executive orders, including one to roll back financial regulations of the Obama era, on Feb.&nbsp;3, 2017.
Trump signs executive orders, including one to roll back financial regulations of the Obama era, on Feb. 3, 2017.
Trump holds up signed executive orders in the Hall of Heroes at the Department of Defense in Arlington, Virginia, on&nbsp;Jan. 27, 2017.
Trump holds up signed executive orders in the Hall of Heroes at the Department of Defense in Arlington, Virginia, on Jan. 27, 2017.
Trump holds up a signed executive order at the Department of Homeland Security on&nbsp;Jan. 25, 2017.&nbsp;
Trump holds up a signed executive order at the Department of Homeland Security on Jan. 25, 2017. 
Trump displays one of five executive orders he signed related to the oil pipeline industry for a photograph in the Oval Office on Jan. 24, 2017.
Trump displays one of five executive orders he signed related to the oil pipeline industry for a photograph in the Oval Office on Jan. 24, 2017.
Trump holds an executive order titled "Mexico City Policy," which bans federal funds going to overseas organizations that perform abortions, on Jan. 23, 2017.
Trump holds an executive order titled "Mexico City Policy," which bans federal funds going to overseas organizations that perform abortions, on Jan. 23, 2017.
Trump has also gotten the opportunity to sign several bills into law that revoked a number of Obama-era regulatory measures. In March, Trump he signed H.J. Res 37, which rescinded a rule requiring prospective federal contractors to disclose their labor violations, during a ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.
Trump has also gotten the opportunity to sign several bills into law that revoked a number of Obama-era regulatory measures. In March, Trump he signed H.J. Res 37, which rescinded a rule requiring prospective federal contractors to disclose their labor violations, during a ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.
Trump signed a bill authorizing funding for NASA in a bill signing ceremony as NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson (4th L) and legislators including Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) (L), and Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) (2nd L) looked on in the Oval Office.
Trump signed a bill authorizing funding for NASA in a bill signing ceremony as NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson (4th L) and legislators including Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) (L), and Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) (2nd L) looked on in the Oval Office.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.