Trump's first 100 days provide more art than deal

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By Gina Chon

WASHINGTON, April 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Donald Trump's first 100 days in office provide more art than deals. The U.S. president is planning a flurry of events before Saturday's landmark, including another try at repealing Obamacare and the unveiling of a tax plan. His promised early policy wins have yet to materialize, though, and he now has to deal with a looming government shutdown.

Trump’s first three months in office have been marked by a rash of executive orders, visits of foreign leaders and hundreds of tweets. This week he’s pressing Republican congressional leaders to have another go at repealing Obamacare after the first attempt failed to be put to a vote in March. He also surprised his own officials by announcing he would reveal his long-awaited tax-reform plan on Wednesday.

For all the activity, the self-described dealmaker has few deals to celebrate. Most executive orders call for policy reviews rather than action. Congress did approve his Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, but it hasn’t passed a single piece of legislation pushed by the president. House Speaker Paul Ryan told lawmakers on Saturday that no vote has been scheduled this week on replacing the Affordable Care Act, according to CBS News. Trump’s tax-reform plan is expected to offer few details, and officials keep extending the time frame for providing such information. A promised renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement has yet to begin.

As part of a deal to avoid a government shutdown, Trump is pushing to add $1.5 billion in funding to start construction on a wall along the Mexican border, which Democrats oppose. He’s in a tough spot because he needs their votes, but they have no incentive to cooperate because Republicans are in control and will probably be blamed by voters for a shutdown. GOP lawmakers, many of whom face elections next year, are urging Trump to back down before the midnight Friday deadline.

In Trump’s 1987 book, “The Art of the Deal,” he described ordering workers to move dirt around to make it seem like construction was taking place for a casino. It was all an illusion to woo investors, much like his first 100 days is turning out to be for voters. Given that track record, he’d be wise not to risk a very real government shutdown.

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CONTEXT NEWS

- U.S. President Donald Trump has planned a week full of activities in the lead up to his 100th day in office, which falls on April 29.

- The White House is working with congressional Republican leaders to make another attempt to replace the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, after a repeal effort failed in March. On April 26, Trump will unveil his tax-reform plan and principles for rate cuts, but it’s expected to lack details. The administration and Congress are also working to avoid a government shutdown, which is slated to occur on April 29 if lawmakers can’t agree on a funding plan before then.

- Trump plans to mark the 100-day point of his presidency with a campaign-style rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

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(Editing by Tom Buerkle and Martin Langfield)