It was another week in which President Trump confounded his critics and fans. He gave two totally different performances in major addresses, one explaining his plans for the war in Afghanistan and the other a political rally in Phoenix, Ariz. The week left our graders divided.
Jed Babbin
Jed Babbin
President Trump began the week with his speech on Afghanistan on Monday, kept going with a campaign rally in Arizona on Tuesday and crashed through the week from there.
During the Afghanistan speech, Trump looked and sounded like he’d rather be somewhere else. He began with a unity theme, still trying to recover from the controversy his remarks on the Charlottesville incident generated. Though he denied further nation-building about half of his new strategy amounted to it. Under national security advisor H.R. McMaster’s influence he never labeled the terrorists as Islamic and, far more importantly, never even mentioned the need for an ideological war against them.
Trump’s campaign rally in Phoenix aimed sharp criticism at the media (over his remarks on the Charlottesville incident and more) as well as at Arizona’s two U.S. senators, both of whom are Trump opponents.
Late Friday, Trump went through with the idea of pardoning former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio. The sheriff had been convicted of criminal contempt of court for refusing to halt his arrests of illegal immigrants. Arpaio’s arrest of illegals was political and so was his conviction. Trump’s pardon of Arpaio is also political and will play well with everyone except the media and political establishment.
The president’s feud with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell continues, its severity evidently waxing and waning in accordance with the mood of the day. Trump threatened a government shutdown if his border wall project isn’t funded. Thus began a round of establishment knuckle-rubbing that will continue until the next Continuing Resolution is signed. If a shutdown occurs, Trump will be in for a record-setting media bashing.
Trump’s two speeches (and his tweeted remarks) show the difference between the president under his advisors’ control and Trump “on message” as he defines it. Does anyone doubt that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly has the toughest job in the country?
Grade B-
John Zogby
John Zogby
President Trump may be president but he is not presidential. His personality forces him to dig more and deeper holes for himself.
After a major speech before armed forces about the U.S. role in Afghanistan, he conducted a rally in Phoenix — and it was a nasty one attacking the media again.
His speech on foreign policy left this pollster scratching his head. Aside from a clear reference to outreach to India if Pakistan did not step up its game in the region, Mr. Trump spoke with hyperbole and little clarity. The U.S. will not hide, we will fight to win, we will not engage in nation-building and we will negotiate peace — but we will not get bogged down in the country, we will destroy the Taliban, we will not be pushed around. He did maintain one campaign promise by not revealing any details that show his hand — it was already revealed that he is calling for 4,000 troops. I am not sure what 4,000 new troops means in the grand scheme of things.
He is also engaged in a war now with both Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan. And now even some Republican leaders are questioning his mental fitness for office. Not a good place for Mr. Trump.
Grade F
Jed Babbin is an Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin
John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Poll and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His latest book is and author of We are Many, We are One: Neo-Tribes and Tribal Analytics in 21st Century America. Follow him on Twitter @TheJohnZogby
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
