President creates his own sense of crisis
‘ New guy in charge’ justmight be in for a harsh reality, too
New presidents WASHINGTON typically start with a flurry of actions designed to demonstrate to supporters and opponents alike that they will deliver on their campaign promises, and that there is a new guy in charge. But never in modern times— a phrase Donald Trump has made familiar in his opening 10 days in the White House — has there been a whirlwind of action that has so disrupted the political order. President Trump has opened a breach with Mexico over building a
wall, created chaos at U. S. airports by blocking immigrants from Muslim countries, moved to undercut the Affordable Care Act even before Congress resumes debate and more.
In other words, after a campaign that upended political assumptions, Trump has grabbed the headlines and prompted protests in the streets and courts by doing precisely what he said he would do.
“We’ve been in office now for about seven or eight days, and we’ve done an incredible amount,” White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said Sunday on CBS’
Face the Nation after deflecting questions on the orders to begin building a wall along the southern border and to temporarily block refugees from seven majority- Muslim countries. “I think that one thing people can say about President Trump is that he’s following through on his promises, and I don’t think people should be surprised that he’s doing it. I’m kind of surprised that people are surprised that he’s actually conducting himself exactly the way he said he would.”
It has been a surprise to those who assumed candidate Trump had more of a combative attitude than a specific policy plan. That gave rise to the observation, credited to Saleno Zito of The Atlantic, that Trump’s supporters took him seriously but not literally, while journalists took him literally but not seriously.
What also has surprised many is the speed with which Trump has moved, in some cases reportedly without the traditional consultation with members of his Cabinet, leaders of Congress or even the lawyers who customarily would review the language and legal basis for the executive orders and presidential memorandums he has signed with fanfare.
Presidents who have taken over at times of crisis have acted in the past with far- reaching actions and left it to the future for the courts and the critics to sort out. Franklin Roosevelt, taking over during the the Great Depression, on the day after being inaugurated in 1933 declared a bank holiday and called Congress into special session. When he took office in 1861, Abraham Lincoln was dealing with a nation split by secession.
This time, though, Trump isn’t taking over at a time of war or economic calamity. He has in effect created his own sense of crisis, a situation he seems to find useful when it comes to dominating the debate and conducting negotiations.
And while FDR coined the idea of the “first 100 days,” Trump seems to be speeding up even that timetable.
But for Trump, there may be surprises ahead.
There are differences between declaring a policy as a candidate and imposing it as president, where the details matter and institutional checks and balances apply. Trump’s immigration order, signed late Friday, was blocked over the weekend by federal judges in at least four states. Congress could act to limit or reverse a president’s actions, although in general the Republicans in control of the House and Senate have signaled support or acquiescence with Trump so far. Public opinion also counts. But there are no signs that Trump is having second thoughts or plans to slow down. On Friday night, the White House sent out a pat- on- the- back rundown “President Trump’s First Week of Action,” including 15 steps it said moved toward fulfilling campaign promises.
The second week is poised to be just as dramatic. That Supreme Court announcement? It’s coming.