Continuing our series examining President Trump's first 100 days in office, it's hard to deny the new administration has certainly faced a bumpy ride so far. But we wanted to know how this administration compares to others so far, and if, in fact, it is having a rough start or if this is just business as usual? Our Washington Bureau Reporter Alberto Pimienta explains.
It's been less than a month since President Trump took power, and there has been no shortage of developments coming out of the White House.
From President Trump's executive order to build the wall along the border, to the travel ban imposed on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, to the resignation of Gen. Michael Flynn, to the withdrawal of his labor secretary nominee — some would call it a rocky start.
Donald Trump has a different view.
"This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine," he said in a Thursday afternoon news conference.
We talked to two experts on American politics. One is part of a conservative organization, the other a more liberal one. We asked them how this White House is doing so far.
"That statement is fundamentally false; the White House is not a fine-tuned machine. Most new White Houses are not," John Hudak of Brookings Institution said. "There are adjustment periods that any new presidency needs to take."
"I think it would be hard to categorically agree with the president that it is a fine-tuned machine," Phillip Lohaus of the American Enterprise Institute said. "That said, I do think that maybe it's somewhere in-between what we're seeing from the media — which is you would think that the sky is falling — and what he said about a fine-tuned machine."
The experts agree: all new administrations struggle. President Obama had a hard time with his cabinet nominees, as did President Bush, and President Clinton got rid of his chief of staff very early on.
But both experts also agree that this White House is having a tougher time.
"They've had challenges organizing their staff, not just getting cabinet nominees approved," Hudak said.
Hudak says part of the problem is rooted in the political inexperience of Trump and his staff. He says that has an impact on all Americans.
"Until that happens, he's going to continue to weaken his ability to meet the demands that voters have put upon him," Hudak said.
Lohaus hopes this is a just learning curve. "This is, I think, undeniably a tumultuous period for the administration, but clearly one — or hopefully one — where they are going to be learning from some of their mistakes," Lohaus said.