The Note: Trump unleashed as reelection plans firm up

The president is letting Trump be Trump.

ByRick Klein and MaryAlice Parks
June 3, 2019, 5:59 AM

The TAKE with Rick Klein

President Donald Trump is letting Trump be Trump.

A presidential visit to the United Kingdom begins Monday with a president even more freed of constraints than usual.

Robert Mueller is now a private citizen and may not even speak about his investigation again. The president is bucking advice from those around him with tariffs on goods from China and Mexico, and amid tensions with Iran and North Korea.

With the president already inserting himself into domestic British politics, this week will bring some twists on the "special relationship."

Back home, perhaps the most serious primary challenger Trump might have faced -- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan -- is taking a pass. And Democrats are tangling with each other about whether to pursue impeachment -- something the president's team thinks would help him politically anyway.

Trump has consistently broken norms and rewritten unwritten rules of presidential conduct. This is a new phase with fewer guardrails -- just as the president's re-election efforts heat up.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump talks with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House, May 30, 2019.
President Donald Trump talks with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House, May 30, 2019.
Evan Vucci/AP

The RUNDOWN with MaryAlice Parks

There is "no middle ground" on policies like climate change, health care or abortion, Sen. Bernie Sanders told activists at the California Democratic Party State Convention over the weekend.

The day before, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper was booed by the same crowd when he argued "socialism" was not the answer to Trump.

And therein lies the tug-of-war within the Democratic presidential primary.

Out West, absolutism is not only acceptable, but increasingly necessary to win over the Democratic base. But a "no middle ground" mantra is still politically risky in the middle of the country, where a Hollywood hue to the party could put off voters.

However, with the state's sizable chunk of delegates, earlier primary date and money, the Democrat who wins in California in early March could run away with the nomination -- so no candidate can afford to blow it there.

PHOTO:Democratic presidential candidate former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper speaks at an event on April 27, 2019, in Las Vegas.
Democratic presidential candidate former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper speaks at an event on April 27, 2019, in Las Vegas.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images, FILE

The TIP with Zohreen Shah

With Congress back in session this week, the focus will likely return to whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will start an impeachment inquiry against the president.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn said Sunday he thinks the president will be impeached, but urged that his party first needed to build a case for it. Some presidential candidates are now pushing for impeachment, including Sen. Kamala Harris who said Saturday, "Mueller's statement made it clear. Congress must hold this president accountable and start impeachment proceedings."

People in Pelosi's own hometown appear to be backing those sentiments. During her speech at the California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco, as she talked about "investigating and litigating to protect our democracy," the crowd began yelling, "Impeach." She tried to continue her remarks, but the crowd only grew louder, holding high bright images of "Rosie the Riveter" from the iconic "We can do it" poster. Rosie's face was replaced with Pelosi's.

PHOTO: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks during a panel discussion at Delaware County Community College in Media, Pa, May 24, 2019.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks during a panel discussion at Delaware County Community College in Media, Pa, May 24, 2019.
Matt Slocum/AP, FILE

THE PLAYLIST

ABC News' "Start Here" podcast. Monday morning's episode features ABC News Senior National Correspondent Terry Moran, who previews President Donald Trump's state visit to London, which kicks off Monday morning. Then ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz tells us about her trip to Iran and how the economic sanctions there are affecting people. http://apple.co/2HPocUL

FiveThirtyEight's "Politics Podcast." In this episode, University of Cambridge professors Helen Thompson and David Runciman connect political events in places as varied as Australia, India, the Philippines and the European Union to the string of recent elections around the world that have produced seemingly similar results: nationalist and populist parties, generally on the right, that keep getting elected. They also weigh in on British Prime Minister Theresa May's resignation and what it means for Brexit. https://53eig.ht/2HPRAZ7

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

  • President Donald Trump is traveling to England, where he will meet the queen around 12:20 p.m. local time.
  • Michael Wolff, author of "Fire and Fury," makes an appearance on ABC News' "The View" to discuss his new book, "Seige," at 11 a.m. Eastern time.
  • Congress is back at work after a week-long recess.
  • South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg will host a meet-and-greet event in Fresno, California, and join MSNBC's "Hardball Live" for a town hall at 7 p.m. local time.
  • Montana Gov. Steve Bullock travels to Seattle for meetings and fundraising events.
  • Washington Gov. Jay Inslee plans to make several campaign stops in Des Moines, Iowa.
  • Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley delivers the keynote address at the Susan B. Anthony List's 12th Annual Campaign for Life Gala in Washington.

    • Download the ABC News app and select "The Note" as an item of interest to receive it every weekday.

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