On Friday’s “PBS NewsHour,” New York Times columnist David Brooks argued that if the reported deal between President Trump and Congressional Democratic leaders is a deal, it’s a good one and that the president doesn’t actually believe in building a border wall.
Brooks said, “I’ve been waiting for a president who would go with the Democrats when the merits of the argument are on their side, and go with the Republicans when the merits are on their side, and now, finally, it turns out to be Donald Trump who’s doing this. So, oh, well.”
He added, “I think that, one, this particular deal, if it is a deal, is a good deal. … And the wall is a stupid idea. I don’t think Donald Trump actually believes that we should build a wall with Mexico. And so, if that’s the deal, that’s a good deal on the merits.”
Brooks concluded, “Can Donald Trump continue to be a bipartisan president? Well, I wish we had a skilled political operator who could do that. I don’t think Donald Trump is that skilled political operator. It takes great skill to go with one party and then go with another. And I fear what he’s going to end up doing is isolating himself, the distrust of both parties, isolating himself from his administration, which is pretty down-the-line conservative, and discrediting bipartisanship along the way. So, if we were going to have an independent president, which is something I think we need, I wish it was somebody a little more politically skilled.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett
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