Donald Trump is set to order a new crackdown on a controversial visa programme for skilled workers on Tuesday as well as launch a push for US government agencies to buy more domestically-produced products in an attempt to fulfil promises to abide by a “Buy American/Hire American” credo.
The signing of the latest executive order is due to come during a visit by the US president to the Kenosha, Wisconsin, headquarters of the Snap-on tool company and marks his latest effort to maintain the appeal to working class voters that helped him to the White House.
It also comes just days after he drew criticism from labour unions and economic nationalists in his base for reversing a campaign pledge to label China a currency manipulator. That and other signals have been read as signs that the former reality TV star is bowing to internationalist moderates within his White House on economic policy and walking away from the populist promises that got him elected.