A look back at Trump's first two years
US President Donald Trump heads into the second half of his first term with uncertain footing.
Republicans increased their control of the US Senate but, in the House of Representatives, Democrats made significant gains and wrested control of the chamber.
In a divided Congress, the President will find it increasingly difficult to pass major domestic legislation, such as the signature Republican-led tax cut.
More pointedly, since the 2016 election, Democrats have been gnashing their teeth at a raft of actions taken by Trump and members of his administration but they have wielded little leverage to do much about it. Now, unleashed and in charge of the House, Democrats can be expected to launch myriad hearings and investigations.
As well, the Russia investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller carries on and the expectation among Washington observers is that he will present his findings, either in part or in whole, within the first six months of 2019.
It can be expected that Trump will push back aggressively.
At the Department of Justice, Trump has appointed as acting Attorney General an ally who will supervise Mueller's investigation. And, at the U.S. Supreme Court, with Brett Kavanaugh now seated as the newest justice, the conservatives are now in the majority but Trump cannot fully assume the Court will back his position if a legal dispute arising from Mueller's investigation reaches that chamber.
Trump can be expected to pursue his immigration policies, including the construction of a wall along the southern border with Mexico, the detention of immigrants who cross the border without documentation, and sharp restrictions on claims of asylum for reasons of political persecution.
The President continues to denigrate The New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN and other mainstream news organizations as "enemies of the people" and purveyors of "fake news." It is expected that as he moves toward his 2020 re-election campaign, Trump will not show no let up in those tweet assaults.
(Source: Reuters)
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