President Trump says he's 'well prepared' for 2018 agenda

THURMONT, Md. — President Donald Trump says he's had some "incredible meetings" with Republican congressional leaders and Cabinet members at Camp David as they ready their 2018 legislative agenda.

He says the group discussed a variety of topics — from national security and infrastructure to the military and the budget.

President Trump says "we are very well prepared for the coming year. We finished very strong."

President Trump is hoping to work out a deal with Democrats that may include granting legal status to about 800,000 young immigrants who were temporarily shielded from deportation under an Obama-era program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

He says "it's something certainly that I'd like to see happen."

President Trump also wants to address the problem of drug "pouring into this country and how to stop it." He's citing opioids and "drugs in the traditional sense."

Plenty of pressing issues are on the agenda as President Donald Trump hosts congressional Republicans and administration officials at Camp David.

The meeting scheduled to begin at midmorning Saturday is expected to touch on the budget, infrastructure, immigration, welfare reform and the shape of midterm elections this fall.

Republicans are eager to add to the victory they achieved late last year with the overhaul of the nation's tax code. But that drive also put off other issues, among them funding the federal government. In just two weeks another funding deadline awaits, and Republican and Democratic lawmakers remain at odds over increasing spending for defense and nondefense agencies.

They also are struggling with the question of whether to extend protections for immigrants brought to the country illegally as children.