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Congressional Republicans are confused and suffer whiplash after President Trump
Donald John TrumpDavid Axelrod after a cancer treatment in Ginsburg: a vacancy at the Supreme Court could "tear this country" The EU said it would "react in the same way" if US tariffs hitting France Ginsburg left the Supreme Court an uncertain future MORE This week, she turned around on firearms and taxes, created a diplomatic conflict with a European ally, ordered US companies to stop doing business with China, and implied that Jewish voters were disloyal. .
He also was called "the elected", a remark he said later was supposed to be sarcastic.
GOP lawmakers have gotten used to avoiding reporters' questions about Trump's latest tweet or controversy, but the president's staggering performance this week has left even some of his most ardent allies scratching their heads.
Fortunately, they are in the middle of August's long recess, far from the Capitol and Washington press corps. Instead, they managed to keep their heads down, avoid the national media and do their best to stay away from the latest statements from the president who blinked.
"It's probably confusing" for Republican lawmakers trying to navigate Trump's remarks, the High Representative said. Tom Cole
Thomas (Tom) Jeffrey ColeTo set the retreat, we must understand him On the money: Trump banks on the Fed, China will fuel the 2020 economy | Judge orders parties to try to reach agreement on Trump tax returns | Warren targets corporate power with a plan to overhaul trade policy Legislators emphasize the rights they are entitled to when asked about deficits PLUS (Okla.), A rare Republican legislator who is willing to speak publicly about Trump. "Most of the members are at home and that makes a difference. It's more difficult when you're in Washington. "
This does not mean that Trump does not dominate the discussions legislators have with their constituents at home.
"The President himself is the number one problem," said Cole, a Trump supporter, referring to two recent public meetings he's organized this week in Norman and Chickasha, in the state of Florida. 39; Okla.
Cole pointed out that, while highlighting Trump's accomplishments (rebuilding the military, deregulating, moving the US embassy to Jerusalem), his constituents are also concerned about political issues such as immigration, health care and the series of massive shots this month.
Trump's position on gun reform is perhaps not the most shocking but also the most disorienting. Following the killings in El Paso (Texas) and Dayton (Ohio), the president said that Congress must pass a law on solid background checks.
But after the aggressive lobbying of National Rifle Association member Wayne LaPierre and other gun rights groups, Trump appeared to abstain, saying the country already had strict verification laws antecedents.
Trump turned back a phone call Thursday night, informing Sen. Chris Murphy
Christopher (Chris) Scott Murphy Murphy: The bill on firearms background checks has not yet been settled at 50-50, according to Murphy (D-Conn.) That the White House still wants to do something about gun violence, including increasing background checks.
"I am skeptical that these efforts will bear fruit, and I think it is very difficult to negotiate with this White House when the president's public positions seem to be changing day by day," Murphy said Friday morning. from a press conference in Hartford, Connecticut.
"The president's language is still vague and difficult to follow, on almost all the issues he's talking about," he added. "It was particularly difficult to analyze when he talks about the modification of US gun laws."
Trump has created a similar confusion over taxes. Earlier in the week, amid reports of a possible recession in 2020, White House officials demolished rumors that Trump was planning to cut payroll taxes to revive the economy.
Trump then confirmed to reporters that he was actually considering cutting taxes, before contradicting himself a day later by stating that the idea was off the table and useless because the economy was so bad. strong.
"The administration has lacked focus and clear messages in recent weeks. This is not ideal with the 2020 campaign fast approaching and the increased possibility of an economic slowdown, "said the former representative. Carlos Curbelo
Carlos Luis CurbeloOvernight Energy: Warren overtakes Sanders in a poll of climate-centric voters | Carbon tax shows new signs of life | Carbon law shows new signs of life in Congress Democrat legislator rejects Castro's call to repeal law that makes illegal border crossing illegally illegal (R-Fla.), Who was fired from his post last fall in the anti-Trump elections of the Blue House.
Then there was the international incident in Greenland. Trump, furious, abruptly postponed a state visit to Denmark and a meeting with Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, after describing it as "absurd" that the US president is trying to get rid of him. buy Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Cole said neither he nor his constituents are upset that Trump plans to buy Greenland, which has natural resources and is home to US military resources. But Trump would not have had to express his frustration by taking retaliatory action against a key ally of NATO, said the congressman.
"They are not going to give up Greenland, so do not be surprised that they say no," said Cole, co-chair of the bipartisan parliamentary group of friends of Denmark and the majority leader in the House. Steny Hoyer
Steny Hamilton HoyerOmar says the United States should reconsider its aid to Israel. Liberal Democrats plan to reduce their aid to Israel after Omar and Tlaib have refused entry into parliament. (D-Md.).
"It was unfortunate. [Denmark] He is a very good ally of the United States. It's not a big country, but it's a very good friend, a strong ally of NATO, "he added. "Are you arguing with them for nothing? Of course, they will not sell. It's not in their interest. "
Cole also said he was troubled by Trump's strange words that Jews voting for Democrats are "disloyal". Asked about his ability to make sense of the president's argument, Cole said, "No, I can not, the summer has been interesting in this regard.
"You do not talk about people who disagree with you politically, because they are disloyal to your country, your faith, Israel," Cole said.
Leader of the minority Kevin McCarthy
Kevin Owen McCarthySteve King defends his remarks on rape, incest Omar says that the United States should reconsider their aid to Israel I'm not a Nazi, I'm just a dude: what is that to be the other Steve King PLUS (R-Calif.) And whip of the minorities of the House Steve Scalise
Stephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseManchin: Trump has "a golden opportunity" on gun reform – Epstein plot theory of Trump retweet catches the projector Sanders: Trump does not "want to see anyone get shot above "but" creates the right climate "MORE (R-La.) Have not publicly commented on Trump's Wild Week; their spokespersons also made no comment. Instead, McCarthy tweeted Friday support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, while Scalise was campaigning with Republicans in Indiana and Michigan.
One of the main reasons that Trump completely dominated the month of August is that Congress has six weeks off, with lawmakers scattered across the country in their districts or traveling abroad on family vacations or of official stays. When the Congress returns on September 9, lawmakers will hold daily press conferences again, which could help the GOP to get the message back.
The GOP party legislator, who asked not to be identified, tried to understand the silver background of Trump's chaotic week. The legislator argued that Trump had opened the book on an uneasy debate and deliberation that usually takes place behind closed doors in the White House and Capitol Hill, in the privacy of the press and the American public .
"He's a disrupter and he keeps everyone on their heels. D.C. is not used to that. We have a history of presidents who are much more on the message, where everything is preselected and precooked, no surprises. What you see here is the continuation of the arrival of an outside observer on DC, which keeps people on their heels, which worries many, "said the GOP legislator.
"When the doors are closed, these discussions are very disjointed," added the legislator. "So, what you see is an overview of the honest conversations that lawmakers have internally with themselves."
representative Mark Meadows
Mark Randall MeadowsTrump announced CNN news hiring McCabe Ben Shapiro, a former FBI official: no influential GOP figure has ever questioned Obama's legitimacy. Trump finds a consistent sheet in "Squad". MORE (R N.C.), The head of the Freedom Caucus, conservative and close ally of Trump, hinted that critics were criticizing the president too quickly, which he says is seriously addressing a range of political issues with an open mind.
"The President has always been engaged on a number of politically difficult issues, always choosing the most difficult path of not accepting the status quo. I salute the president's efforts to open a rigorous debate, "Meadows told The Hill on Friday. The work I witnessed this week by the administration in the area of due process and drug pricing is inclusive and deliberative. "
"Often, some people insist far too much on a single comment that put the whole debate in context," he added.
Mike Lillis contributed.
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