President Trump and Congressional Republicans: Uncertain Teamwork in the 115th Congress

Abstract

Abstract To what extent have Republicans in Congress unified to work with President Trump, and what are the prospects for unity going forward? These questions are not as straightforward as they may seem given that the President is not deeply engaged in the policymaking process, he often reverses his positions, and he is prone to criticizing his most important partners in governing – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan – eroding trust among members of his own party and diminishing Republicans’ prospects for passing their legislative priorities. In this analysis, I assess President Trump’s relationship with Republicans in the House and Senate; internal unity and divisions among Republicans; Republicans’ lack of success in enacting significant policy priorities prior to the August recess; the limited (but potentially growing) prospects for bipartisan cooperation; and the outlook for the remainder of the 115th Congress.