Weekly Trump Report Card: Trump’s best week yet, maybe

Jed Babbin

President Trump had what may have been the best week of his presidency so far, dealing with the Obama-Iran nuclear weapons agreement, (thus setting the stage for the coming summit with Kim Jong Un), obtaining the release of three Americans held by North Korea, and sending a $15 billion rescission package to the Hill intended to cut federal spending.

Trump’s announcement Wednesday that he was withdrawing America from the 2015 Obama-Iran deal was the fulfillment of yet another important Trump campaign promise. But it was far more than that because, as the president said, “[the agreement] didn’t bring calm, it didn’t bring peace, and it never will.” Trump’s action restores the severe economic sanctions that were in place before 2015, but waits to do so for ninety days allowing companies that are doing business with Iran to extract themselves from it. The EU nations, Russia and China are objecting and saying they will stay in the deal with Iran and keep negotiating. Trump said he’d negotiate another deal, but that this one is most sincerely dead. Trump’s action makes EU trade with Iran impossible because companies that trade with Iran will not be able to trade with the U.S. and may be subject to the same severe sanctions.

Some critics are whining that Trump has shown America doesn’t keep its word. Nonsense. America’s keeps its word by living up to our Constitution, laws and treaties. The Obama agreement with Iran was none of those. It was nothing more than Obama’s word, and that was given foolishly. Trump has simply reversed an entirely reversible — and unwise — decision.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in North Korea again for talks setting up the Donald Trump – Kim Jong Un summit now scheduled for June 12. This time he came back with three U.S. citizens that had been held hostage by the Kim regime. Trump met them at Joint Base Andrews at about 2 a.m.

Trump sent Kim a very strong message by revoking the bad deal with Iran: America isn’t going to agree to any more bad deals such as the 1994 Clinton “Agreed Framework” with North Korea or the Obama deal with Iran, neither of which did anything to stop rogue regimes from pursuing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

The president sent a $15.4 billion rescission package to the Hill, seeking to cut federal authority to spend that amount. It may not pass, but it’s worth a try. Another, larger, rescission package is reportedly being prepped to send to the Hill next month in addition to the one sent this week.

Grade A+

John Zogby

I know when you average some A’s and F’s you get a C, but this is getting a bit tiresome. On the positive side, the economy is stunningly strong and President Trump’s polling numbers are solid. Also in his favor is that he is able to make policy and is in charge of things.

So we know he will meet with Kim Jong Un of North Korea and even his detractors are cautiously optimistic. He announces an end of the U.S. support for the multi-nation nuclear deal with Iran because, in the words of one of his predecessors (Bill Clinton) he ‘could.’ In the process he may have helped unleash a regional war in the Middle East so there is lot to worry about.

But we received even more evidence this week that his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, is a snake who was selling access to the president. Cohen could be indicted for that alone and so could Trump. And we also have learned that the man who was once ‘America’s Mayor’ has lost some of his bearings. He is embarrassing both himself and the President of the United States. Subsequently Rudy Giuliani had to resign from his position with a prominent law firm, which in turn issued a scathing statement about him. Trump is not serving himself well, and he is not surrounding himself with folks who are doing him any good.

Finally, he came close this week to losing one of his key Cabinet officials after berating Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen over immigration at a Cabinet meeting. On balance, in what was supposed to be a week of triumph, the president is beset by real troubles.

And then there was the White House aide who insulted Sen. John McCain this past week and who has not be held accountable in any way by her colleagues or by the president himself. I have to dock the president for that. Bad form.

Grade D-

John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Poll and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His latest book is We are Many, We are One: Neo-Tribes and Tribal Analytics in 21st Century America. Follow him on Twitter @TheJohnZogby

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