Trump is struggling to govern as a populist, with a forecast yesterday likely to inhibit "what the GOP hopes will be an ambitious fall of policymaking," according to a WashPost front-pager:
- "Trump's budget would not add to economic growth or eliminate the deficit in coming years, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said."
- "With his budget and health care, Trump is falling in line with some of his party's most conservative voices, even if the policies threaten to harm many of the working-class voters who elected him."
- "On trade — an issue where he could act unilaterally — Trump is facing opposition from companies, foreign allies and numerous White House advisers who say restricting imports could hurt U.S. industry broadly far more than it helps steel companies."
- But, but, but ... "Trump's allies point to several successes, including reducing regulations ... withdraw[ing] from international agreements ... the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris climate accord."