This week’s White House Report Card finds our graders divided over the two worlds of President Trump, his tweets and hype versus his policy successes and bid to change former President Obama’s agenda.
Jed Babbin
President Trump had a mixed week, with a few big wins outweighing the losses.
First up was the Supreme Court’s decision to take on Trump’s travel ban executive order which had been blocked by two federal circuit courts. The fact that SCOTUS allowed part of the ban to go into effect immediately is a good indication where they’ll go in their final ruling. The downside is the court’s tinkering with the order which may make it impossible to administer even during the ban’s partial lift. Trump issued a statement saying the Court’s decision was a clear victory for national security, which it almost was.
The partial ban went into effect Thursday.
Trump had a good but uneventful meetings with India’s PM Modi and South Korean Prez Moon. Trump may have pressured Moon to speed up the deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Air Defense system to protect US troops and South Korea from North Korean missiles. (Moon had delayed the installation seeking to make nice with the Chinese and North Koreans.)
Our new American Energy Policy will unlock MILLIONS of jobs & TRILLIONS in wealth. We are on the cusp of a true energy REVOLUTION. pic.twitter.com/Up9WkJnYgw
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2017
A CBO report finding that, like the House bill, the Senate’s Obamacare “reform” bill would mean over 22 million people would not be covered by health insurance in a few years. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s delay of the vote is another indication that Republicans may not be able to pull off Obamacare “repeal and replace” this year, if ever. Trump’s legislative agenda is still stalled.
The EPA announced the formal procedure for repealing the Obama “navigable waters” rule that would redefine every big puddle and small stream as a controlled body of water. Courts had already stayed the absurd rule and now the Trump administration is going to repeal it entirely. Trump’s plan to cancel Obama’s restrictions on offshore oil and gas drilling began to go through the rulemaking process. The latter will open huge energy reserves to exploration and drilling.
Grade B
John Zogby
I try to be fair. I hope I really don’t have to even explain my grade this week. A health care bill that very few Americans support cannot even win a majority of the GOP in the Senate and a vote had to be postponed. I am not sure what kind money will be spent to buy how many holdout senators but that is for next week.
I heard poorly rated @Morning_Joe speaks badly of me (don’t watch anymore). Then how come low I.Q. Crazy Mika, along with Psycho Joe, came..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2017
The much touted $110 billion Saudi arms deal that was supposed to create tens of thousands of jobs has been exposed as hype and the president hit a new low with his tweeting — something I don’t want to even address.
…to Mar-a-Lago 3 nights in a row around New Year’s Eve, and insisted on joining me. She was bleeding badly from a face-lift. I said no!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2017
Grade F (because there is nothing lower)
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 at @TheJohnZogby
Jed Babbin is an Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him @jedbabbin
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
