When Donald Trump called Bob Costa on Friday afternoon he told Costa, "I just didn't understand Bob - all this anger."
Costa replied, "What do you mean by that?"
Trump replied, "All of the anger in the Republican Party - in the Congress - between the Speaker and the 'Freedom Caucus' - the Speaker and the 'Tuesday Group' - just anger."
Costa said Trump thought the Republican Party would be in lock-step or at least willing to help a Republican President with a major legislative project. Trump said, "I don't blame Paul - I don't blame Paul - I just feel like I walked into a storm - all these guys in Congress angry for years."
Costa told Charlie Rose, Trump realized he's not a Republican who's already aligned with any of these different factions so he relied on Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to guide legislation, but now he wants a different approach.
He needs to change it up and put up a win, maybe work on something like infrastructure where he can bring in Democrats, but the budget deadline is looming and the 'Freedom Caucus' seems ready to again shut down the government.
Trump feels the problem is the Republicans in the House have absolutely no fear of the President. Trump can point out how much better he did in the election in their own districts than these Congressmen did, but they have this feeling there's no action Trump can take which could affect them.
Costa said, Trump has political capital but he's not previously had to deal with ideological purists who don't really want to have a transactional deal which requires any compromise.
Costa asked Trump to reflect on the experience, he replied, "It's just another day in paradise Bob."
Robert Costa has been interviewing Trump as a businessman long before he decided to run for President, and subsequently during the campaign and after he was sworn in. He had a pending interview request, but the call from Trump wasn't scheduled.
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