Trump’s uphill battles starting now

– US President Donald Trump may have managed to unilaterally reject a global climate pact but faces uphill battles to achieve his legislative priorities, with Congress consumed by division and distracted by Russia probes and fiscal deadlines.

Addressing a gathering on Thursday at the White House, Trump used his executive authority to declare that “we’re getting out” of the Paris climate accord.

Trump has endured a rough education in Washington dealmaking since taking office in January. In the opening months, he has learnt how little control he has over Congress, even when its two chambers are led by his own Republican Party.

Lawmakers return to Washington today under pressure to advance Trump’s agenda, notably Bills to repeal and replace Barack Obama’s health-care reforms and overhaul US tax law.

In the absence of major legislative victories and with crises roiling the White House – including a bombshell report that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner sought a secret communications link to Russia – the Trump administration needs a rallying win.

But there is a shrinking window for success: Congress has just seven work weeks before its members head home for a recess that lasts until early September.

White House officials have privately expressed frustration with the slow pace on Capitol Hill, as well as some embarrassment about how an initial effort to ram health-care changes through the House of Representatives collapsed in March. – AFP