Washington Free Beacon editor in chief Matthew Continetti suggested Tuesday evening that President Trump should not back down from his signature border wall, but instead carve a path away from the Republican establishment.
Continetti appeared on a panel on MSNBC's "Meet The Press Daily," where host Chuck Todd asked about a recent segment of conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh's show. Limbaugh attacked Trump for backing down on funding for his border wall, and Todd asked Continetti to opine on whether or not this move by Limbaugh was something Trump should pay attention to.
'It's worrisome," Continetti said. "We talked ... about that lock Trump has on his voting base. An issue like the wall, if he were to move away from his support for it, if he weren't to deliver on it, that would hurt him with his voting base. That would erode his support even further. That's one reason you saw Trump today come out after the press conference and say no, we are going to build that wall."
Continetti was referring to Trump's promise that the wall would still be built "soon" earlier in the day.
Continetti further said that it "may have made sense for Trump to pick a fight on the wall right now."
"I think it would have rallied support for him among his core voters," Continetti said. "It may come out and Trump's mistakes have been when he plays by the rules of Washington. This is another example of him doing that. If you are a Trump supporter, you're looking at this and saying, is he accommodating to Washington?"
Later in the segment, Continetti further emphasized that Trump should work to separate himself from the Republican establishment, especially following the failure of the American Health Care Act last month.
"You have to kind of wonder whether this might be his block of votes for the duration of his presidency no matter how long it lasts," Continetti said. "March was terrible for Donald Trump. Why? Because he got in league with Paul Ryan and put forward this health care bill that no one likes and embarrassed the Republican majority. Trump may actually benefit from more separation from the Republican Party."
Continetti cautioned that Trump should not aim for sweeping actions, at least as regards his coming tax policy overhaul.
"The thing about tax reform," he said, "simpler is best. Just cut the corporate tax rate and you will probably get some Democrats to go with you. Don't go for the big tax reform, 1986. That will never pass Capitol Hill and it will be another embarrassment for the president."