This week’s White House Report Card finds President Trump with his highest approval rating in a while bolstered by the empathy he showed all week for the victims of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting and his leadership on guns. A good jobs report helped, but more Russia-related indictments did not.
John Zogby
John Zogby
President Trump stepped out front on the gun debate following the Florida shootings, embracing the victims and those of other past school shootings during an emotional White House roundtable. Anyone who thinks that Donald Trump is not good at politics does not see that he is the one who understands that these young people are not going to give up, that much is on the line than simple legislation, that above all they need to be heard and honored in this life-changing moment of grief.
His legislative package may not yet be enough for some but it fosters even more conversation among a group of young people who want to believe someone can help them. Say what you want about Donald Trump — and readers know I do not hesitate — this is presidential leadership.
On behalf of an entire Nation, CONGRATULATIONS to the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team on winning the GOLD! #GoTeamUSA #Olympics pic.twitter.com/3cUZwLVGua
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2018
He also was bolstered by a jobs report that new applications for unemployment benefits dropped 7,000 to 222,000, the second-lowest mark of the recovery and a good sign for the economy. But that was offset by more Russia “Gates” reports: more charges against Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort and a guilty plea by former campaign aide Rick Gates for lying to investigators.
Grade B
Jed Babbin
Jed Babbin
The shooting last week at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School dominated the political/media world this week. Lost in that shuffle, the president’s lack of reaction to the threat from Russia detailed in special counsel Robert Mueller’s indictment of thirteen Russian individuals and three Russian companies is puzzling at best.
President Trump’s listening session, attended by parents and surviving students of the Parkland shooting was, as expected, a highly-emotional meeting. Both before and after it, the president began announcing policy changes and floating trial balloons on others. First, Trump instructed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to issue regulations banning the sale of bump stocks, an attachment to some semi-automatic weapons that enables them to imitate machine gun fire.
I will always remember the time I spent today with courageous students, teachers and families. So much love in the midst of so much pain. We must not let them down. We must keep our children safe!!
Full Listening Session: https://t.co/x5VenyQX5p pic.twitter.com/CAPfX5odIp
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2018
Later in the week, the White House announced that in addition to the new bump stock ban, the president wanted to increase the eligibility age for someone to buy a semi-automatic rifle to 21 and to ensure that mentally ill people can’t gain access to guns at all (without prescribing how that can be done.) Another proposal is to make state and local action more certain in reporting criminal convictions to the National Instant Criminal Background Check system, which enables gun stores to deny sales to individuals flagged for criminal conduct. Trump also called for arming at least some teachers, a proposal that is unwise for a host of reasons. At one point, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders indicated that the president would go along with another “assault weapons” ban.
The Mueller Russian indictment was interesting in its allegations of how certain Russians, undoubtedly under government orders, used false personas to create social media accounts, bought ads and organized political rallies to spread hatred and discontent among American voters. It also said that people on Trump’s team who communicated at times with the Russians were unwitting participants in the Russian scheme, which ultimately had no effect on the election.
MUELLER HOOKS ANOTHER ONE https://t.co/UD0PkZyTQi
— DRUDGE REPORT (@DRUDGE_REPORT) February 24, 2018
But the president’s silence is more than troubling. Trump — aside from a few tweets — hasn’t spoken out on the Russian threat or how America is going to deal with it. Other presidents would have, long before now, made an Oval Office prime-time speech about it and how they would protect our elections from now on. Trump’s silence is an awful failure of leadership.
Grade C-
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]
