Trump’s rude awakening: Governing in tough times
Published Date: 12/13/2018
Source: axios.com
It is a fact President Trump had a consequential first two years: a huge tax cut, two Supreme Court justices and lots of regulations eliminated.But it is also a fact that he did this in the kind of political environment all presidents dream of but few ever got: full control of government in peaceful and prosperous times. His job now is not just harder — it’s exponentially harder.He shifts from a compliant Republican Congress to a stubbornly divided one.Thanks to his tax cuts, deficits are shooting past $1 trillion annually, providing little wiggle room for new spending programs.The era of cheap money is over. He can kvetch about the Fed all he wants — rates are going up.The market went from roaring to rude, and most think a recession is coming our way. The Mueller investigation is a threat and nuisance.Congressional subpoenas and public hearings are hell. Trump is already seeing the perils of his new reality: He threatened a government shutdown and promised to take full ownership of it. Democrats are planning a flurry of investigations come January.Even routine tasks (for him) like finding a new chief of staff are harder.Be smart: Trump faces all these headwinds as he ramps up a re-election campaign for a race in which the path to victory and margin for error are as slim and elusive as any in a lifetime. Go deeper:Trump's "reality tremor" as Mueller fallout piles upWhat we now know about Trump and RussiaMueller's breadcrumbs suggest he has the goods