Weekly Trump Report Card: Mixed week clouded by shooting, Russia probe

John Zogby

John Zogby

Another terrible and senseless act of violence in a school this week. Generally, gun rights advocates win the day by outlasting the sense of outrage felt by gun control voices. But perhaps not this time as even the conservative New York Post demands that president do something to limit the purchase of guns at gun shows and beef up databases on those regarded as mentally ill. The president finds himself under heavy pressure to do something this time.

This week he also chose to not sign a compromise immigration bill, failing again to achieve a key campaign promise.

And, talk about pressure, the special prosecutor has announced a detailed indictment against Russian citizens and groups for troubling (but perhaps not game-changing) intervention in the 2016 election. There is no indication that the indictment reveals any U.S. citizen activity but the president will be pressured to ensure the sanctity of elections and punish the Russians. Both seem pretty thankless to me.

Meanwhile, this weeks polls average 45 percent approval — just one point shy of the 46 percent vote he secured in 2016.

Grade C-

Jed Babbin

Jed Babbin

It was a pretty dull week for President Trump. His new infrastructure package drew yawns from congress and was almost unreported by the media. The Senate killed two bills aimed at a deal on the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program and yet another court held his immigration ban unconstitutional.

Trump’s infrastructure plan would appropriate $200 billion to invest in roads, bridges and railroads on the theory that another $1.3 trillion in state, local and private investment would be stimulated by the federal investment. The plan met with a mixture of mild condemnations and media inattention. Trump’s proposal is virtually certain to be forgotten amidst congressional flaps on immigration and congress’ frequent vacations.

After several veto threats from the White House, the Senate killed two measures on immigration reform that would have included a DACA deal. One bill, the president’s proposal, would have fully funded the border wall and ended both the visa lottery and chain migration in exchange for a path to citizenship for DACA beneficiaries. Another, a bipartisan proposal, would have partially funded the border wall, given a path to citizenship for the DACA people but wouldn’t end either the visa lottery or chain migration.

The failure of both bills brings closer the March 5 end of the DACA program, although the program is being continued – so far – by court order. The result is enormous pressure on the Democrats to make a DACA deal quickly. The longer it takes, the more leverage the president should have, but the Dems may rely on the courts to stop Trump’s end to DACA.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson struck out in his efforts to ease the tensions between Turkey and the U.S. in his visit to our faux ally this week. U.S. forces stated the obvious fact that they’d defend themselves against any Turkish action. Turkish President Erdogan’s threat of an “Ottoman slap” was answered, in a calculated move, with laughter by State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert. Tillerson can’t be blamed for not calming Erdogan, but the stakes are rising in the Syria conflict.Turkish President Erdogan’s threat of an “Ottoman slap” was answered, in a calculated move, with laughter by State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert. Erdogan can’t – and shouldn’t be – appeased.

Trump’s opponents continue to succeed in tying up his signature initiatives in court. The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals held Trump’s immigration ban unconstitutional by a 9-4 vote. The ban is already before the Supreme Court on the basis of previous rulings. California U.S. district judge Gonzalo Curiel, who had castigated Trump during the 2016 campaign, said he’s leaning toward asserting jurisdiction over environmental objections to the border wall. He could tie construction of the wall up until it, too, goes to the Supreme Court.

Grade B

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

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]