Translucent but out in the open

If Donald Trump chooses to write a book on his Presidency he will be justified in saying that he struck three great deals in the first two years of his first tenure, the second year having just begun. He has pushed through a $ 1.5 trillion tax cut that basically helps large corporation relocate manufacturing and outsourcing to the United States. And whether by coincidence or not he has announced a $ 1.5 trillion infrastructure investment plan to rebuild and repair roads, highways, airports, bridges and schools committing only $ 200 billion in federal funds, the rest will come from the big corporates and individual states. Details are obfuscated, but that's the essential Mr. Trump having everyone guessing.

During the campaign trail the tax cut and infrastructure spend were major features; he is getting his teeth into matters now. Both contribute to deficits unless the money comes from somewhere and Mr. Trump still has his special card of knowing how to cut costs in construction. Perhaps his biggest bet will be on the money that will be reduced on the meaningless and adventurist wars that the US got drawn in to. Approximately $ 7.0 trillion dollars have essentially gone down the drain. In terms of victory the US has little to show. Islamic State (IS) has been wiped out as an organisation but still operates in hit and run tactics; Afghanistan, as the British and the Russians have found out, is not winnable. Iraq is a ruined state, most of Syria resembles a ghost country and the same Egyptians that began the Arab Spring are disillusioned with the following summer. Barrack Obama's decision to decertify the removal of Bashar Al Assad has left the Syrian opposition in disarray and Mr Trump has shown he won't agree to American money being used to fund organisations such as the International Office of Migration (IOM) and UNESCO and drastically cutting USAID funds. Unemployment is at an all time low, job creation on the raise and mega projects will require more hands at work.

In spite of all this, international media continues to have a go at him, essentially on issues such as migration curbs, refusal to shut down Guantanamo Bay. The warbling over the way senior members of his administration have either been weeded out or left in disagreement doesn't bother Mr. Trump. His next challenges have already surfaced.

Canada has announced a newer version of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the major partners, including China have stuck to their guns with regard to the climate change agreement. There is a risk of exclusion for the US, though apparently international trade without the US is unthinkable. Embattled UK Prime Minister had the courage to decry US withdrawing from the climate agreement but has been snubbed twice, once by Mr. Obama and now Mr. Trump for favourable bilateral trade between the US and the UK.

When the book comes out it will be quite a read. Traditional politics taken to the cleaners and a businesslike approach to economic issues may leave traditionalist in the lurch, but the faithful in his heartland states, handful though they may be are happy with how he is doing. So every time CNN talks of his popularity declining one has to remember Brexit and take a pinch, a huge one. The facts will be out in the open but translucent at best.

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