Trump goes scorched earth against impeachment talk

The Hill ^ | 05/25/19 12:35 PM EDT | JORDAN FABIAN

[E. Pluribus Unum]

President Trump’s scorched-earth offensive against congressional Democrats this week is a clear sign he sees his path to reelection as being paved through battles with his opponents more than collaboration.

The president’s decisions to walk out of a White House meeting on infrastructure and to belittle and poke Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) with personal attacks are likely to excite Trump supporters who like nothing more than his confrontations with the establishment.

“Donald Trump is a fighter, there’s no ambiguity about that, and he’s going to fight for what he believes in,” said Bryan Lanza, a former Trump campaign and transition aide. “He’s going to show he will do what’s right for the taxpayers and the voters, but all the Democrats want to do is talk about impeachment.”

Heading into an era of divided government, White House officials pointed to last year’s criminal-justice law as evidence Trump was capable of working across the aisle on big issues like infrastructure, trade and prescription drug-pricing. Failing to address those priorities could be a turn off with independent voters.

It would also undercut the notion he can use his status as a businessman and Washington outsider to cut through partisan gridlock to address the needs of the country.

And it takes the focus off Trump’s stewardship of a growing economy, which at present still looks like his greatest strength in a political campaign.

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