OPINION: Presidential Persuasion: So far, the art eludes Trump
One of the most important powers of the U.S. presidency is its power to persuade. But after six months in office, President Donald Trump is far from becoming America’s Persuader-in-Chief.
That’s one of the lessons — so far — of the Senate’s struggle to pass health care legislation. Until this week, Trump has been largely uninvolved in twisting arms and bending ears in an effort to win passage of the bill. He’s seemed uninterested in or unaware of its details, to the discouragement of some of the effort’s senatorial supporters.
In recent days, Trump has thrown himself into lobbying for a health care “win,” but his message has at times contradicted itself, while the bill teeters on the edge of extinction. He’s publicly tweaked some GOP lawmakers without appearing to acknowledge the cross-pressures they’re feeling from their particular constituencies. Oh, and he’s given The New York Times a long interview that’s producing major headlines, and major distraction.