99% of the FedGov works in the Executive Branch. Trump was in charge of the Executive Branch but because he had such a shallow understanding of what his authority was and an absolute inability to communicate effectively - past the media as it were (as Reagan could) - he couldn't accomplish lasting change. That is ALL on Trump.
As it turns out, having someone manage one of the largest bureaucracies on the planet who doesn't have a clue how government works because he never worked in government in any capacity wasn't a very good idea. He compounded that bad idea by choosing people to work in his own West Wing that rarely shared his vision for the country and the world.
Being an effective president takes a lot more than giving barn-burning speeches to audiences full of supporters. It even takes more than wanting to accomplish the right things. Trump's policy instincts were great, one of the best in the modern era. But, he simply didn't understand how to breath lasting life into those policy ideas and positions.
99% of the FedGov works in the Executive Branch. Trump was in charge of the Executive Branch but because he had such a shallow understanding of what his authority was and an absolute inability to communicate effectively - past the media as it were (as Reagan could) - he couldn’t accomplish lasting change. That is ALL on Trump.
You don’t get it on this one. The executive branch mostly just ignored President Trump when not outright obstructing him.
I talked to one government contractor who flat out admitted his team just QUIT WORKING once Covid hit.
Trump was mostly a figurehead as POTUS. I wish it was different but it is what it is.
99% of the FedGov works in the Executive Branch. Trump was in charge of the Executive Branch but because he had such a shallow understanding of what his authority was and an absolute inability to communicate effectively"
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I would go back to my original argument. 99.99% of the fed gov was actively subverting him.
Trump could issue orders...effective/lawful/legal/pro-USA orders all day long until he was blue in the face.
Who would carry out those orders?
The very same people who were trying to oust him with their ongoing coup? Those people?
As it turns out, having someone manage one of the largest bureaucracies on the planet who doesn't have a clue how government works because he never worked in government in any capacity wasn't a very good idea."
I would argue, that he was exactly who we needed then...and now. NOT someone who was part of the broken system.
The problem wasn't Trump, the single person. The problem was the ~entire fed gov, to varying degrees, backed a 4+ year coup against him. The problem was the supporting cast.
Had just Ryan and McConnell alone, acted just like Trump from day 1 and supported him fully, it would have made an enormous difference. Then add in other (R)'s in "leadership" in the first 2 years as well as Comey acting like Trump, working with him, instead of trying to oust him in a coup...and things would have been very different.
It wasn't that Trump didn't know how to manage a large entity. He knows far, far better than most career politicians how to manage.
The problem was that it was essentially the entire government against him.
Pretty difficult to be a captain of a ship with the entire crew in mutiny. The captain won't get much done and wont last long.
The guy had zero management experience, let alone for a large enterprise, etc.
Yet...he got far more of his reckless policies started/completed.
Why?
Not because of his vast government experience or his superior management skills.
He got more done because those around him thought like him, wanted to get what he was pushing done. He gave the "orders"...and they complied, with earnest.
And perhaps most importantly, the fed gov / media didn't have an ongoing coup against him.