Who in the administration called it an "immigration ban"? I haven't seen this. I'm not talking about campaign gibberish, I'm talking about post-inauguration actual policy here.
The exact wording of the order is:
"I hereby proclaim that the immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of aliens from countries referred to in section 217(a)(12) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12), would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and I hereby suspend entry into the United States, as immigrants and nonimmigrants, of such persons for 90 days from the date of this order..."
While it does not use the word "ban" if I suspend entry of you from my place of business I have banned you from entering. Ban is easier to understand and explain and thus the term to use. Trump now is walking back from the original order while trying to deflect criticism to others.
The real problem, separate from the ban, is the Trump's administration approach to governing. While he may like the attention and showmanship of making broad unexpected announcements it makes it hard to govern. Yo can't lurch from crisis to crisis and be effective. Trump also seems unable to let any criticism go and keeps returning to it. He can't seem to abide by the idea that someone may not think he is the greatest, smartest person around, and may actually dislike him; qualities that are not good in a politician. He tactics worked to get his way in business, but politicians have a long memory and revenge is always on their minds. As one Senator put it when someone said FDR was sometimes his own worst enemy, "Not as long as I am around."
His two biggest threats are:
1. He doesn't deliver on his promise to bring back the factory jobs that left in the last 20 years. His populist base expects him to deliver on his America First message and if jobs don't materialize they will turn on him. People believe he will bring back the factories where a high school graduate can make a good living but if companies cold do that and be profitable they would; the problem is they can't, which is why factories in the US are becoming more automated and requiring a different skill set to run.
2. The Federal bureaucracy and it's ability to oppose policies without coming out and saying so. Leaks to the press, slow rolling initiatives, etc. are the stock in trade of the Federal system. The military is also very adept at that game, and the Joint Chiefs, if things get to bad in their opinion, can testify to Congress and make a President look bad. Sure Trump can fire some people but as Nixon realized when he discovered who Deep Throat was, if he fired him he is now free to reveal all he knows which is worse than the slow leaks.
No matter your views on Trump he faces a daunting task made worse by his personality. In Trump's case, the job could very well break him.
