Michael R. Strain, Columnist

‘Watch What Trump Does, Not What He Says’

OK, sure, but even his actions are a mixed bag. And his reckless words have consequences.

August 21, 2018 at 1:00 PM UTC

Michael R. Strain is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is director of economic policy studies and Arthur F. Burns Scholar in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute. He is the author of “The American Dream Is Not Dead: (But Populism Could Kill It).”

He hasn’t withdrawn from NATO or started any new wars. But Trump’s words have changed NATO.
Photographer: Jesco Denzel/Bundesregierung, via Getty Images

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It is increasingly common to hear conservatives say that they don’t like President Donald Trump’s political incorrectness and rhetoric, but they do like the policy victories of his administration. In the fight between tweets and policy, the argument goes, policy should win: Conservatives should support the president and the GOP.

Let’s consider this argument first by questioning its premise. Excessive political correctness can be irritating, and even socially damaging. But calling the president politically incorrect is like calling the surface temperature of the sun a little warm.