Morning Roundup: Trump Missing In Action Edition
Remember when President Trump promised to be a dealmaker? Yet, in the midst of a shutdown, Mr. Art of the Deal is nowhere to be found. You can’t deny this is a Trump Shutdown when the President – the person who is supposed to lead – is nowhere to be found. Take a look:
NBC News: Trump has been missing in action in the shutdown fight
New York Times: A President Not Sure of What He Wants Complicates the Shutdown Impasse
CNN: 'Dealmaker in chief' largely absent in weekend shutdown negotiations
USA Today: Analysis: In shutdown impasse, the dealmaking president remains mostly on the sidelines
Associated Press: Shutdown challenges Trump’s dealmaker branding
NBC News: Trump has been missing in action in the shutdown fight
“In the 56 hours and counting since the federal government has been shut down, President Trump hasn’t held a public event and isn’t scheduled to have one today. He hasn’t spoken with reporters or even left the White House. And he hasn’t been a real player in the negotiations to reopen the government.”
“Bottom line: Trump, who campaigned for the presidency on his deal-making skills, has been missing in action.”
“Bottom line: Trump, who campaigned for the presidency on his deal-making skills, has been missing in action.”
New York Times: A President Not Sure of What He Wants Complicates the Shutdown Impasse
“As the government shutdown continued for its second day on Sunday, one thing was clear to both sides of the negotiations to end it: The president was either unwilling or unable to articulate the immigration policy he wanted, much less understand the nuances of what it would involve.”
“Both sides have reason to be confused. Each time Mr. Trump has edged toward compromise with Democrats, he has appeared to be reined in by his own staff, which shares the hawkish immigration stance that fueled his campaign. And Republican leaders, bruised by past experience with a president who has rarely offered them consistent cover on a politically challenging issue, are loath to guess at his intentions.”
“Both sides have reason to be confused. Each time Mr. Trump has edged toward compromise with Democrats, he has appeared to be reined in by his own staff, which shares the hawkish immigration stance that fueled his campaign. And Republican leaders, bruised by past experience with a president who has rarely offered them consistent cover on a politically challenging issue, are loath to guess at his intentions.”
CNN: 'Dealmaker in chief' largely absent in weekend shutdown negotiations
“President Donald Trump may be presiding over the first government shutdown ever to occur when one party controls Washington, but in his own telling he is just beginning to master the ways of the capital.”
“On Sunday, there was little to indicate Trump was taking a leading role in helping break the stalemate between Democrats and Republicans. He did not appear in public. He hasn't taken a meeting at the White House since Friday. And his only tweet of the day, calling for an end to the Senate filibuster, was roundly rejected by Republican congressional leaders.”
“On Sunday, there was little to indicate Trump was taking a leading role in helping break the stalemate between Democrats and Republicans. He did not appear in public. He hasn't taken a meeting at the White House since Friday. And his only tweet of the day, calling for an end to the Senate filibuster, was roundly rejected by Republican congressional leaders.”
USA Today: Analysis: In shutdown impasse, the dealmaking president remains mostly on the sidelines
“…Two days into what may be the biggest domestic crisis of his presidency, Trump remained largely on the sidelines watching a legislative process on Capitol Hill from 16 blocks away. Instead of a weekend victory lap to celebrate the one-year anniversary of his inauguration with friends and supporters, he hasn't been seen publicly since the shutdown started Saturday morning just after midnight.”
Associated Press: Shutdown challenges Trump’s dealmaker branding
“He wrote a book on the art of negotiation and was elected to office claiming he alone could end Washington gridlock, but President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to broker a big, bipartisan deal has turned into a big mess.”
“The failure to find consensus on immigration and spending is a blow to Trump’s presidency on the one-year anniversary of his inauguration — and perhaps more painfully, a blow to his brand as a wheeler-and-dealer. The funding feud, which led to a government shutdown at midnight Friday, is the second time Trump has dived into a negotiation and come up short on a top priority. As with failed talks about overhauling the nation’s health system, Trump has again slammed into the difficulties of Washington’s particular mix of tricky politics and complex policy.”
“The failure to find consensus on immigration and spending is a blow to Trump’s presidency on the one-year anniversary of his inauguration — and perhaps more painfully, a blow to his brand as a wheeler-and-dealer. The funding feud, which led to a government shutdown at midnight Friday, is the second time Trump has dived into a negotiation and come up short on a top priority. As with failed talks about overhauling the nation’s health system, Trump has again slammed into the difficulties of Washington’s particular mix of tricky politics and complex policy.”