How Republicans Erased Trumpism
G.O.P. congressional leaders used tactics to minimize the president’s influence and maximize their own control over public policy.
Donald Trump has a Congress problem. He can’t get Republicans to promote his policies. And when he forces the issue — as with his border wall — he can’t win their support. But most Americans don’t know that. After all, Republican legislators voted with the president well over 90 percent of the time during the 115th Congress.
(. . .)
Critically, congressional Republicans have adopted strategies that make the public — and more important, his conservative base — think Mr. Trump is in command. To casual followers of political news, the visible evidence from congressional votes and news releases suggests a powerful president leading a loyal congressional party. In reality, Republican legislators have hidden their influence, purposefully disguising a weak president with little clout on Capitol Hill while also preserving party unity.
(. . .)
Republican leaders simply declined to take up legislation that reflected the priority of the president but not their own. There were no votes on immigration restrictions or funding for a border wall, protectionist trade legislation or infrastructure. The Trump budget proposals for the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years requested deep cuts in nondefense discretionary spending. Congressional Republicans quietly buried them and delivered bills both years that increased nondefense spending.
Such “negative” agenda-setting leaves little trace; without a vote, it becomes difficult for opponents or voters to identify or understand what happened.
President Trump’s priorities weren’t voted down in the House or the Senate; they were just never considered.
Republican leaders know they’ve lost much of their policymaking capacity.
They may soon realize they also can no longer mask the weakness of Mr. Trump.
(my emphasis)
