Obama Warns Trump: Don't Rely on Executive Orders

President Barack Obama warned Donald Trump to shy away from the use of executive power and work through Congress as much as possible.

In an interview with Steve Inskeep on NPR's "Morning Edition," Obama said: "My suggestion to the president-elect is going through the legislative process is always better, in part because it's harder to undo."

NPR noted Obama was forced to use executive actions and regulations on issues like labor, climate and immigration after Congress refused to go along with his proposed programs.

But now President-elect Trump has announced he plans to toss out many of the steps Obama put in place through executive orders and administrate rules – and Obama's work to increase overtime pay, reduce carbon dioxide emissions of power plants and protect those in the U.S. illegally from being deported are particularly at risk.

But Obama said he accepts that.

"If he wants to reverse some of those rules, that's part of the Democratic process. That's why I tell people to vote — because it turns out elections mean something."

Obama added it is "entirely within his lawful power" to sign new executive orders of his own.

"Keep in mind, though, that my strong preference has always been to legislate when I can get legislation done," he said.

The Wall Street Journal also noted some of Obama's executive orders are very vulnerable as Trump gets set to take office.

"Mr. Trump has the power to repeal Mr. Obama's executive orders with the stroke of a pen, just as Mr. Obama repealed those of his predecessor," the newspaper reported.

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