Trump summons Cabinet to Camp David amid budgetary deal
Today, President Trump and his cabinet arrive at Camp David for a three day retreat, where they are expected to discuss the President’s legislative agenda.
Mr Trump’s legislative priorities are threatened by a budgetary deal that he himself struck with Congressional Democrats. Defying colleagues in the GOP leadership, Trump endorsed legislation that would simultaneously fund relief for the victims of Hurricane Harvey and prevent a government shutdown by raising the debt ceiling for another three months.
Although Trump has long had a frayed relationship with the Republican leadership, this is the first time he has shunned them in favour of Democrats, infuriating some members of the GOP.
Additionally, kicking the budgetary can just three months down the road means that painstaking negotiations over the divisive issue will continue to eat up time, diverting efforts away from constructing the GOP’s ambitious tax reform plan.
Trump will likely be impressed by his deal-making prowess as he heads to Camp David, but by poisoning his relationship with the Congressional GOP and cluttering the congressional agenda, Trump’s ability to pass his preferred legislation through Congress will be severely hampered, restricting his administration’s actions both at home and abroad.
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