Trump perfects art of deal with Chuck, Nancy

Deal with Dems over spending, budget

Washington, Sept. 7: President Donald Trump briskly overruled congressional Republicans and his own treasury secretary to cut a deal with Democrats to keep the government operating and raise America’s debt limit.

The immediate goal was ensuring money for hurricane relief, but in the process the President brazenly rolled his own party’s leaders.

In deal-making mode, Mr Trump sided with the Democratic leaders ‘Chuck and Nancy’, as he amiably referred later to Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and House minority leader Nancy Pelosi as they pushed for the threemonth deal.

The deal had the effect of brushing aside the urgings of Republican leaders and treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin for a much longer extension to the debt limit.

Republicans want that longer allowance to avoid having to take another vote on the politically toxic issue before the 2018 congressional elections.

The White House session painted a vivid portrait

We had a very good meeting with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. I think the deal will be very good

— Donald Trump, US President

of discord at the highest ranks of the Republican Party.

After an angry August that Mr Trump spent lobbing attacks at fellow Republicans, specifically targeting Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell for the failure of health care legislation, the President wasted little time once Congress came back this week in demonstrating his disdain for the House and Senate leaders charged with shepherding his agenda into law.