How the DIY president took control of the chaos in his own inimitable style
One year into office Mr Trump has finally grasped the job, forging an administration of his own
THE latest turmoil is in some ways nothing new. This White House has been characterised by chaos ever since it was built from an eccentric mix of political outsiders and Washington players.
The difference this time is its source: An emboldened president intent on moulding the administration in his own image.
Whereas for much of the past year Donald Trump has been buffeted by events, frustrated by the Washington machine and hobbled by the competing factions inside his administration, he now looks like a leader who has found his feet and his purpose.
So where Steve Bannon was ousted last year for sowing division – pouring poison about colleagues into reporters’ ears – Rex Tillerson was essentially fired as secretary of state last week for not pursuing a sufficiently Trumpian foreign policy.
And where Sean Spicer quit last year as press secretary because a rival was brought in (anyone remember Anthony Scaramucci?), the resignation last week of Gary Cohn came after Mr Trump ignored his counsel and pushed ahead with trade tariffs.
This is a different president at work. After a year dominated by failure – failing to replace Obamacare with Trumpcare, watering down his travel ban and governing under the shadow of the Russia investigation – things have changed since December’s big win in overhauling the US tax system.
Mr Trump, for better or worse, looks like a man who now understands the job and will govern as promised: by being instinctive and bold.
Whether it is dealing with the North Korean crisis or making good on promises to blue collar voters, if there is a job needing doing then Mr Trump is confident in his ability to do it himself.
In both cases he demonstrated his new-found independence, blindsiding officials who were trying to stay one step ahead.
He asked a visiting South Korean to announce his plans to meet Kim Jongun, rather than rely on a staff that might try to persuade him to think again, and pre-announcing his announcement on aluminium and steel tariffs by a week, silencing aides who were briefing that no decision had yet been taken.
Where before he was at the mercy of the competing power centres he arranged inside the administration – the bankers, the generals, the populists, the family and the Republican apparatchiks – now he looks to be in command of the chaos. The factionalism is fading in favour of a staff that is more in line with his thinking and more tolerant of his moods.
Friends have always said the president would need time to grow into office and find his people.
The arrival of Mike Pompeo, who won Mr Trump’s affections as a Hillary-bashing, Iran-baiting congressman, at the state department illustrates the trend.
That is bad news for people like HR Mcmaster, whose condescending manner as national security adviser has irritated Mr Trump. So too Jeff Sessions, his long-suffering attorney general; John Kelly, who has tried to impose order on the White House as chief of staff; and any number of others.
Anyone who’s not with the programme is out.
Into his second year, this is a president who is finally living up to his own TV catchphrase, confident enough to be building his own team and secure in the knowledge he can fire anyone, anytime.