Trump goes to the scorched earth against the speech of impeachment

President TrumpDonald John TrumpA better VA, endowed with mental health services, is essential for US veterans Pelosi, Nadler gets tangled in the impeachment process, votes for contempt of power, Trump arrives in Japan to begin a visit to Japan. Four day state MOREThe scorched earth offensive against congressional Democrats this week is a clear sign, he sees his way to re-election as being paved with battles with his opponents more than collaboration.

The president's decision to step out of the White House infrastructure meeting and belittle and push the president Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi and Nadler muddle in the impeachment and voting procedure for contempt Hillary Clinton blames Trump for broadcasting a "sexist junk" about Pelosi Hillicon Valley: Facebook will not remove the tampered video of Pelosi | Trump denies having knowledge of fake Pelosi videos | Controversy over Assange's new charges | House Democrats Seek Bipartite Group on Net Neutrality (D-Calif.) With personal attacks are likely to excite Trump supporters who love nothing more than his confrontations with the establishment.

"Donald Trump is a fighter – there is no ambiguity about it – and he will fight for what he believes in," said Bryan Lanza, former Trump campaign advisor and transition aide. "It will show that it will do what is right for taxpayers and voters, but all the Democrats want to do is talk of removal."

However, the approach also involves serious risks.

The lack of action on Capitol Hill prevents Trump from adding legislative achievements to his record.

At a time of divided government, White House officials cited last year's criminal law as evidence that Trump was able to tackle major issues such as infrastructure, trade and price of prescription drugs. Failure to meet these priorities could be an impasse with independent voters.

It would also reduce the idea that he could use his status as a businessman and a foreigner from Washington to end partisan impasses and meet the needs of the country.

And this distracts Trump's attention from economic growth, which at the moment still seems to be his greatest strength in a political campaign.

"It would be helpful for Trump to do something important with the Democratic Congress to show that he is the great negotiator he is telling everyone," said Doug Heye, a Republican consultant who has worked as a management aide. from the room. "If he has nothing to show, it's a problem for him."

Republican lawmakers said Pelosi deserved to be blamed for this breakup, as she had accused Trump of "hiding" just before the meeting on infrastructure. But some think that the current stalemate does not benefit anyone.

"I hope not," Sen. John CornynJohn CornynThe Hill's Morning Report – Trump states that no law is pending until Dems ends his investigation Bill on Bipartite House Calls for Strategy to protect 5G networks against foreign threats Collins bill to boost battery research while GOP promotes energy innovation (R-Texas) said he was asked if the probes were a reason not to create an infrastructure. "Sometimes the spirits jostle and emotions rise, but in the end we have work to do and I think the best thing we can do for the people we work for is to try to make as much progress as possible. "

Other signs point to major legislative reforms even before Wednesday's White House blast.

For weeks, Trump had been hit by GOP lawmakers and some of its staff after funding its $ 2 trillion infrastructure proposal. Separate discussions with the Democrats on an expenditure agreement had been a problem.

Johnny DeStefano and the director of legislative affairs, Shahira Knight, announced Tuesday that they were leaving, another sign that Trump is moving completely into campaign mode.

The Democrats believe that Trump offered them a political gift because he was the one who pulled the plug of the talks, not the leaders of their party.

representative Brad ShermanBradley (Brad) James ShermanDems states that the NYT report on Trump 's business losses stimulates the need to consult the president' s tax returns. Some chairmen have changed their minds about Trump's removal. Dems seek to contain calls for dismissal MORE (D-Calif.) Compared Trump ordering his lawyer of the time Michael CohenMichael Dean CohenCohen challenges Sekulow to testify about the Trump Tower meetings. George Conway is an opposing contrast. Trump refuses "cover-ups" with the check of Michael Cohen Avenatti, accused of defrauding Stormy Daniels. MORE Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress, must pay $ 130,000 to stay silent on a case at her request, namely that Democrats abandon their investigations to work on a set of infrastructure.

"The price of hidden money has skyrocketed," Sherman said.

"It's a bit sad for me, to be honest with you, because we're all here to do the people's work. And we can investigate and at the same time legislate. Nobody suffers from our constituents, "said the chairman of the House Monitoring and Reform Committee Elijah CummingsElijah Eugene CummingsNancy Pelosi opposes the impeachment proceedings – at the moment, the Democrat and Trump House lawyers are asking the Court of Appeal to expedite the processing of their summons to appear. lawmakers demand "dead time" for facial recognition tech (D-Md.), Who heads several investigations on the Trump administration.

But Trump and his campaign see a political advantage in putting Democrats on the defensive by essentially forcing them to choose between investigating and legislating. This is a strategy Trump telegraphed last fall after the GOP lost control of the House when it committed to launching a barrage of political attacks and counter-investigations if Pelosi resorted to his presidency to investigate him.

"I could see that it was extremely good politically because I think I'm better at that game than them," Trump said at the time.

Some consider Trump seeking to push his opponents into a battle for destitution, which, according to Republicans and some Democrats, including Pelosi, could be catastrophic for his party.

Trump's prediction of whether he is better at the political game will be tested in the coming weeks, as the White House and congressional Democrats fight a fierce battle over subpoenas and documentation relating to special advice. Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan MuellerThe Hill & # 39; s 12:30 Report: Trump orders the sending of additional troops to the Middle East despite tensions in Iran Trump: Democrats just want Mueller to testify for an investigation "d & # 39 "Scope" Graham: The Mueller investigation is a "rectal political exam" SUITEThe investigation in Russia.

Trump defended his approach by claiming that Democrats' inquiries were politically motivated, claiming this week that "their goal is focused on 2020 and that he was trying to belittle the Republican Party and the President of the United States" .

Trump's campaign believes that voters would punish Democrats for opening impeachment proceedings, encouraged by polls showing that most Americans are opposed to one.

Officials said it would give them an opportunity to portray the president's opponents by 2020.

"The only ruthless democratizers are the mad and mad Democrats of 2020," campaign spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said. "Their indictment was still unfounded and they have never stopped trying to overturn the legitimate results of the 2016 election. … Democrats are driven by the radical fringe of their party and are willing to destabilize and divide the country to make them happy. "

The Whispering of their demands by the White House reinforced the Democrats' calls to call off the impeachment process, which increased pressure on Pelosi.

But the President rebuffed these demands by saying that Trump "aspired to impeachment" and warned that it would be a "dividing place that can go as far as division in our country".

"We can communicate the facts to the American people through our investigation. This can lead us to an inevitable place in terms of indictment or not. But we are not there, "she told reporters.

Jordain Carney and Cristina Marcos contributed to the report.