President Trump is moving to avert the most harmful consequences of the partial government shutdown, an equivocation that suggests uncertainty about whether he can win in the court of public opinion and extract immigration concessions from congressional Democrats.

Lawmakers from both parties are welcoming this development, especially White House commitments to process tax refund checks and issue food stamps should the 20-day-old shutdown persist. But some Republicans are acknowledging flaws in Trump’s approach. The less painful the shutdown, the less political pressure on Democrats to capitulate and approve funding for a border wall — if the risky tactic is to work at all.