Packed away in the passing of the controversial Republican Tax Bill was authorization of additional oil drilling in Alaska. While backlash was expected, Donald Trump made sure to give his thoughts.

Trump on drilling

For the last year, questions were raised as to whether or not Donald Trump and congressional Republicans would be able to get on the same page and pass tax reform. For the entire 2016 presidential election, the former host of "The Apprentice" vowed to pass the biggest tax cut since in the United States since the days of Ronald Reagan, and it appeared inevitable with Republicans having majority-control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

After often clashing with members of his own party, Trump was able to get enough support to have the bill passed through Congress before Christmas, with the president making sure to brag about his one and and only legislative accomplishment since being sworn into office last January. Though the majority of the attention has been paid to the tax cuts themselves, which heavily favor the wealthy and corporations, other aspects of the bill have been getting negative attention. As seen during a tweet on December 24, Trump is defending the bill for opening up new oil drilling in Alaska.

Taking to Twitter on Christmas Eve, Donald Trump continued his defense of his tax bill, making sure to attack the mainstream media over the provision that allows oil drilling in Alaska.

"The Tax Cut/Reform Bill, including Massive Alaska Drilling and the Repeal of the highly unpopular Individual Mandate, brought it all together as to what an incredible year we had," Trump tweeted.

Not stopping there, Donald Trump double down on his attack on the press.

"Don’t let the Fake News convince you otherwise...and our insider Polls are strong!" he wrote.

Instant reactions

Within seconds of the president's tweet, critics took time to fire back. "Trump you had a HORRIBLE YEAR! You endorsed a p*dophile, ticked off the international community about #Jerusalem, supported Nazis and white supremacists, and had members of your cabinet indicted.

Hardly a banner year!" Bishop Talbert Swan tweeted out.

"You are so right about FOX news! It is so fake," actress Lori Cardille wrote. "Insider polls? The equivalent of 'my mom says I’m handsome.' That opinion doesn’t really matter," another Twitter user added.

"The best Christmas present would be if you and your family were locked up for treason! You sir are a traitor!" an additional tweet noted. "Yes drill Alaska into environmental disaster, hard luck Palin," a follow-up tweet wrote.
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