Washington, 29 March – Energized by special counsel Robert Mueller's finding of "no collusion" with Russia, President Donald Trump is relitigating a host of contentious policy battles – from healthcare to immigration – that could dramatically shape his reelection effort.
Trump faces a political dynamic on Capitol Hill that has not changed. Democrats, who control the House and have the power to block his initiatives, remain hostile to his agenda. But the president has ramped up his rhetoric on immigration, reopened fights over health care and storm-ravaged Puerto Rico and vowed to "fix" the crisis in Venezuela.
"Now that the Mueller report is behind them, the White House feels liberated to start putting its energy into pursuing its legislative agenda," said GOP strategist Ron Bonjean. "It's likely going to force the House Democratic leadership to stand in the way of its progress, allowing Trump to use his megaphone against them."
Eyeing the growing field of Democratic candidates seeking to unseat him in 2020, Trump returned to battleground Michigan for a rally Thursday in which he revealed in the findings from the Mueller report summary and repeatedly slammed his critics.
"The collusion delusion is over," Trump told supporters at the Grand Rapids rally, where he debuted his renewed intention to fight on several policy fronts.