With Democrats seizing control of the House in the midterms, President Trump is facing mounting pressure from his base to abandon hopes of bipartisan compromise and instead wield executive power aggressively — just as Barack Obama did after his own midterm shellacking in 2014.
Though Trump struck a conciliatory tone on election night, telling Fox News he could work with Democrats on issues like immigration, conservative voices are urging him to follow Obama’s “pen and phone” model of bypassing Congress entirely.
The Obama Precedent
After Republicans won the Senate in 2014, Obama responded with a flurry of executive actions on immigration, climate change, and healthcare. His unilateral moves — like shielding millions from deportation via DACA — drew fierce GOP criticism but were framed by allies as bold leadership in the face of obstruction.
Now, some Trump supporters argue he should take the same approach with a hostile Democratic House. “These aren’t people you should be working with,” the Daily Wire piece argues, claiming Democrats will focus on investigating Trump rather than legislating.
Immigration as Flashpoint
Trump’s mention of potential immigration cooperation raised eyebrows given Democratic opposition to his border wall and enforcement policies. Critics contend any compromise would require abandoning core promises to his base.
The administration has already relied heavily on executive action, from travel bans to military border deployments. With Democrats controlling the House purse strings, more unilateral moves — like declaring a national emergency to fund the wall — could become tempting.
The Gridlock Ahead
Most expect the next two years to be defined by investigations and veto threats rather than major legislation. The question is whether Trump will seek legacy-defining deals or double down on confrontation — a calculation Obama also faced.
As one conservative take puts it: “President Trump shouldn’t fall for the temptation” of compromise that might “undermine the whole reason voters sent him back to the White House.”
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/president-trump-should-embrace-his-pen-and-phone-era