Smerconish: Trump's Controversial Fights - Harvard, Deportation, and the IRS

Trump's Controversial Policy Fights

• 🎯 Michael Smerconish analyzes three high-profile issues where Donald Trump has taken controversial stances: defunding Harvard, deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and scaling back the IRS.
• ⚠️ Despite being on the wrong side of these issues on their merits, Trump has often benefited politically, relishing these fights.

The Harvard Funding Dispute

• 🏛️ The Trump administration's decision to freeze $2.2 billion in funding for Harvard and consider revoking its tax-exempt status was reportedly sent in error.
• 🎓 The administration demanded "viewpoint diversity" in each department, which Smerconish argues is a gross overreach of government power and contrary to conservative principles.
• ✡️ Critics, including Harvard students and writers for The Atlantic, suggest Trump is using antisemitism as a pretext to attack elite academia, a perceived sphere of opposition.

Deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

• 🇸🇻 Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an immigrant from El Salvador, was deported despite having been granted withholding of removal status, raising due process concerns.
• ⚖️ The administration now defends the deportation, labeling Garcia a dangerous MS13 gang member with a history of domestic violence and suspected human trafficking.
• 📈 Public opinion on deportations has significantly shifted, with a majority now supporting stricter measures, aligning with Trump's stance.

Scaling Back the IRS Workforce

• 📉 The administration plans to cut the IRS workforce by 30-40%, reducing staff from over 100,000 to 60,000-70,000.
• 💰 This reduction is expected to lead to fewer audits, further declining an already low rate, which could exacerbate the nation's $36 trillion debt.
• 🗳️ Politically, advocating for the IRS's audit capabilities is challenging, making this a fight Trump can likely win despite the fiscal implications.

Rule of Law and Political Alignment

• 📊 While Trump appears to be winning politically on these issues, the long-term implications are uncertain, especially concerning compliance with court orders.
• ⚖️ A strong majority of Americans (82%) believe the president should obey court rulings, even when disagreeing with them, highlighting the enduring value placed on the rule of law.
• ❓ The question remains whether the administration will comply with court orders, and if the merits and politics of these issues will eventually align.