Fresh off striking a budget deal with Democrats, Donald Trump is toning down his rhetoric and looking to cut deals on such American hot-button issues as immigration and tax reform in search of a much-needed legislative victory.
Eight months in office, the Republican president is openly courting and pressuring Democrats for support on taxes and, for now at least, steering away from hard-line positions on immigration that might antagonize them.
The approach is still in its early stages. In the past Trump has briefly taken a more moderate direction only to quickly return to his conservative base. But White House aides say the driving force behind the change of tactics is a desire to secure some wins in Congress after months of failure.