As White House Presses for Booster Shots, Americans Are Slow to Get Them
In the wake of President Trump’s widely applauded announcement that he would sign an executive order to reinstate the long-stalled program, Americans across all ideological stripes expressed outrage and disbelief, and many said they were waiting for more proof. The executive order doesn’t go far enough, many said, and some even thought it was too much, too soon, too strong, too much like a ban.
Yet as it has turned out, the executive order is actually stronger and more extensive than many Americans had expected. This is not the first time the issue of “boosters” has emerged during a presidential campaign, but it has been particularly visible in Trump’s campaign, as well as in his first six months in office, which included the controversial order issued to temporarily ban travel from several majority-Muslim countries while he was on the campaign trail. As his administration has gained more authority, the number of times Trump’s name has also been used in the phrase “bump stocks” has increased. Now, as the White House presses for a series of legislative steps to reinstate his call for bump stocks, which many have argued are banned under the executive order, many have come to the same conclusion as the president: His executive order is enough.
As he did while campaigning and in office during the last election, the president has tried to keep his position on bump stock bans under wraps. He has not spoken publicly at length about the issue since June—he has, instead, tweeted his support for the executive order and his eagerness to sign it.
As a result, the conversation has become polarized, leading to an increase in the number of people who have been discussing their views on bump stocks for the first time. Among those who have gone public are many in the conservative and Republican worlds who have long defended the practice. Trump himself has not been involved in any discussions about bump stocks, including during the campaign and since taking office.
The White House press team has tried to keep its discussions of bump stocks out of the public eye