The GOP is hailing Trump's infrastructure plan as a major accomplishment. It's never gotten close to being passed.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
The GOP compiled a list of President Trump's #winning record to celebrate his administration's accomplishments — including an infrastructure plan that has yet to go into effect.
In a blog post published Monday, the GOP hailed "500 Days of American Greatness" since Trump took office, counting down from $700 billion in defense spending to "0: The number of days Hillary Clinton has served as president."
David Frum, an editor at The Atlantic, pointed out that the summary "twice cites non-existent infrastructure plans" as some of the president's big accomplishments. Indeed, part of Trump's "American Greatness" list includes $200 billion in federal money that is "dedicated to improving America's infrastructure" and another $50 billion "dedicated to rural infrastructure."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Both are supposedly a part of Trump's infrastructure plan, but there's just one problem with that claim: Trump himself said that his plan wouldn't go into effect until after the 2018 midterms. CNBC reports that Trump blamed Democrats for delaying his long-awaited infrastructure plan. The White House describes the plan as an initiative that "will lead to" at least $1.5 trillion in local investments, by spending about $200 billion.
The list also touted low unemployment rates and newly-restarted potato exports to Japan among Trump's accomplishments. Even though the major infrastructure plan has stalled since his administration announced it in February, the fact that Trump is "dedicated" to this plan is apparently #winning enough for the GOP.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Political cartoons for February 14Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include a Valentine's grift, Hillary on the hook, and more
-
Tourangelle-style pork with prunes recipeThe Week Recommends This traditional, rustic dish is a French classic
-
The Epstein files: glimpses of a deeply disturbing worldIn the Spotlight Trove of released documents paint a picture of depravity and privilege in which men hold the cards, and women are powerless or peripheral
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump
-
El Paso airspace closure tied to FAA-Pentagon standoffSpeed Read The closure in the Texas border city stemmed from disagreements between the Federal Aviation Administration and Pentagon officials over drone-related tests
-
Judge blocks Trump suit for Michigan voter rollsSpeed Read A Trump-appointed federal judge rejected the administration’s demand for voters’ personal data
-
US to send 200 troops to Nigeria to train armySpeed Read Trump has accused the West African government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks
-
Grand jury rejects charging 6 Democrats for ‘orders’ videoSpeed Read The jury refused to indict Democratic lawmakers for a video in which they urged military members to resist illegal orders
