Wall Street Journal editorial: GOP should treat Trump as a ‘political independent’

The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board on Friday advised Republican lawmakers to ignore recent attacks from President Trump and to pursue an agenda independent from the administration.

To keep a majority in 2018, Republicans must “fulfill their legislative promises” with or without Trump’s support, the editorial says.

“Republicans in Congress need to think of themselves as governing with an independent President — if they don’t already. This doesn’t mean joining Democrats as ‘the Resistance.’ But it does mean acting on their own to fulfill their legislative promises with or without the support of Mr. Trump,” the Journal’s editorial board wrote. “If the President goes his own way, at least Republicans can point to votes for legislation that they put on his desk.”

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The editorial comes in light of Trump’s stepped up attacks on Republican lawmakers and the looming threat of a government shutdown this fall.

Trump has publicly feuded with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), criticizing him for failing to pass an ObamaCare repeal bill and blaming him and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) over the coming debt ceiling fight, which Trump called a “mess.”

Trump has pointed the finger at Republican leadership for failing to score more legislative victories and added pressure on lawmakers to avoid a government shutdown, raise the debt ceiling and get tax reform — a longtime GOP promise — off the ground. 

But Trump also threatened to shut down the government in order to secure funding for his proposed southern border wall while speaking during a rally in Phoenix on Tuesday.

“Build that wall. Now the obstructionist Democrats would like us not to do it, but believe me if we have to close down our government, we’re building that wall,” Trump said Tuesday.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board said a shutdown fight over the border wall would do nothing to help Republicans and that lawmakers should ignore the added pressure from Trump to ensure a 2018 majority.

“The GOP should pass a budget that has as many of its priorities as possible, and more money for border enforcement ought to satisfy the immigration restrictionists. The physical wall is Mr. Trump’s personal preoccupation. He can veto a bill without it, but then he’d be responsible for the shutdown,” the Journal wrote.

“Legislative success—especially on tax reform—is the best way Republicans can protect themselves from any Trump undertow in 2018.”