President Donald Trump might suddenly find himself in the situation he’s so far managed to avoid: having his own party hold him to account.
Trump tried very hard in recent weeks to cajole and browbeat Republicans into rejecting a push for the release of documents related to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, without success. He intimated that he would oppose them in GOP primaries, finding that this once-potent threat wasn’t enough to inspire loyalty.
Unlike most past chief executives, Trump’s power depends on strict loyalty from congressional Republicans. That loyalty has depended on the perception that Trump holds enormous power; specifically, power over the Republican electorate.
But Epstein is not the only issue on which Trump has faced headwinds of late: As inflation and prices remain high, he has struggled to convince Americans there are no affordability issues.
The White House is aware of these glimmers of weakness. It would be hard for the administration not to be, even if staffers continue curtailing their media consumption to friendly outlets.
This is a preview of Philip Bump's latest column. Read the full column here.
