This week’s White House Report Card finds President Trump’s frustration boiling over with nonstop illegal immigration and the refusal by Democrats to take the issue seriously. As a result, he threatened to impose trade tariffs on Mexico, which seems to have sparked a positive reaction from our neighbor.
But his opponents, including critical media, are already warning of a coming “avocado crisis,” finds our grader and conservative analyst Jed Babbin.
Jed Babbin
Grade – C
President Trump’s week began well with meetings in Japan with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe but went south from there with his statements on Iran and North Korea and his imposition of tariffs on Mexico.
Trump apparently wants Abe to use the latter’s ability to communicate with the Iranian regime in order to begin some sort of negotiation with Tehran. Trump said that he doesn’t want regime change in Iran, only to negotiate a new deal. He also said that he has “confidence” in dictator Kim Jong Un and that he didn’t conclude that North Korea’s recent firings of short-range missiles had violated U.N. resolutions (which they clearly had). There is no possibility of productive talks with either regime. Trump’s agreeability toward those regimes will not be rewarded.
I will be announcing my Second Term Presidential Run with First Lady Melania, Vice President Mike Pence, and Second Lady Karen Pence on June 18th in Orlando, Florida, at the 20,000 seat Amway Center. Join us for this Historic Rally! Tickets: https://t.co/1krDP2oQvG
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2019
While in Japan, the White House reportedly told the Navy to keep the USS John McCain out of the background of any pictures Trump would be in. Trump said that the unidentified person who made that request was “well meaning.” The idea of keeping the ship — named for Trump’s former nemesis — is petty, shameful and shabby.
The media is a total joke — They discuss “avocado’s” potentially increasing a few cents but fail to mention the $200 Billion illegal immigration costs American taxpayers EVERY YEAR. How about the cost of illegal drugs on our youth, the cost to eduction & healthcare? #Priorities https://t.co/bbgPl4yELo
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) May 31, 2019
Now-former special counsel Robert Mueller’s mid-week press conference, in which he pressured House Democrats to begin impeachment proceedings, actually helped Trump by building a sense of outrage among his base in that the Mueller investigation — and the Democrat’s lasting insistence that Trump had obstructed justice — emphasizes Trump’s claim of a witch hunt.
Trump ended the week by imposing a 5% tariff on all goods coming in from Mexico as a threatening incentive for Mexico to do more about the flood of illegal immigrants entering the US. (In one day, more than a thousand came into one location in Texas.) Trump is frustrated by his congressionally (and judicially)-imposed inability to build a border wall and get Congress to do anything to stop the tidal wave of immigrants. The new tariffs may sink the proposed treaty but Trump must realize the Democrats don’t want to pass it in any event. Thus, Trump is flailing to find some solution to the illegal immigration crisis. Congress won’t help but tariffs on Mexican goods just might. But, like all tariffs, they will increase Americans’ cost of goods. The next thing the Democrats will shout about is the coming “avocado crisis.”
Jed Babbin is an Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin
