Donald Trump has kicked off the 2020 election year with a string of key foreign policy and economic wins that his campaign hopes will overshadow -- and outlast -- the political fallout from his historic impeachment.
As the Senate began his impeachment trial on Tuesday in Washington, Trump tried to pull the spotlight to Davos, Switzerland, where he touted his record to an annual gathering of global elites: “America is thriving, America is flourishing, and yes, America is winning again like never before,” he said.
Trump’s argument has been bolstered by a series of recent victories. He inked a long-sought “phase one” trade deal with China, the Senate passed his rewrite of Nafta, and he ordered the killing of a top Iranian general without immediately tipping the U.S. into another war in the Middle East.
All three events occurred within a two-week period, helping push the stock market to record highs and giving Trump clear talking points for the argument that his confrontational approach to China and Iran is working. Adding to the list, Trump on Tuesday indicated he had secured a truce with French President Emmanuel Macron in their dispute over digital taxes, and said he’s confident he can reach a trade deal with the European Union.
Trump’s victories may still sour. His U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is regarded as a modest revision of Nafta that required considerable concessions to Democrats in order to win the House’s approval. His deal with China includes limited reform commitments by Beijing and what many experts regard as an improbable commitment for $200 billion in purchases of U.S. goods, while leaving tariffs in place on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese imports.
And while the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani elicited limited retaliation from Tehran, the Islamic Republic may seek further reprisals and is now seen as less likely to enter negotiations with the U.S. over ending its nuclear program and support for militants and terrorists.
Confidence Boost
Nonetheless, the run appears to be boosting Trump’s confidence. Last week, he spoke at length and unscripted during a ceremony to sign the China deal, comparing himself favorably to Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln and gleefully shouting out corporate executives and wealthy supporters in his audience.
Speaking to reporters after a dinner with Trump and other business leaders in Davos, Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Officer Herbert Diess said that the president “appeared more confident” and secure following the economy’s recent performance.
On Wednesday, Trump also appeared emboldened by his recent deals. Speaking in Davos, Trump put European leaders on notice about reaching a trade deal before the U.S. elections. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on European auto exports and has already hit $7.5 billion of EU exports with levies over an airline dispute.
But Trump’s optimism will be met with the harsh reality of a bitter impeachment fight when he returns to Washington on Wednesday.
Senate Democrats and Republicans spent most of Tuesday debating the rules of the trial to determine whether Trump should be removed from office. While Democrats have pushed to include additional witnesses and documents, Republicans -- led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell -- have indicated they’re intent on a speedy acquittal of the president.
“The Senate GOP Leader has chosen a cover-up for the President, rather than honor his oath to the Constitution,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. Representative Adam Schiff, the Lead House trial manager, said the process proposed by McConnell would lead to a “rigged trial.”