Donald Trump played a game of chicken with House Republicans. Then he blinked. Bigly. [View all]
By Chris Cillizza March 24 at 4:40 PM
Donald Trump was elected in large part on one, loud promise: I know how to make deals these normal politicians don't.
Part of that mystique — as outlined in his best-selling book “The Art of the Deal” — is the willingness to call his rival's bluff, to put his cards on the table and ask everyone else to do the same.
That's what Trump did Thursday night after a postponement of the planned vote to begin the process of reforming the Affordable Care Act. House Republicans needed to put up or shut up, Trump insisted. Despite being told the votes simply weren't there, Trump pushed forward — arguing that it was now or never.
It was vintage Trump, taking a gamble no other typical politician would take: Force a vote on a massive part of your legislative agenda with an uncertain outcome.
Then Trump blinked.
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