But the current situation only underlines it.
Trump pulled the bill to roll back Obamacare because the Republicans were all getting balshy about it. Almost every one of those house representatives campaigned on that repeal of Obamacare. Trump, by pulling the legislation, has put them in the position of having to explain their actions to the electorate in 18 months time.
In short the message is this. "Don't mess with me or I'll sink you. I'm here for the next 3 1/2 years and you have to get elected again in 18 months. Block me again and you're toast".
The press is totally clueless about Trump. But the members of the house? They're getting a masters course in negotiation. At the wrong end of the barrel of a gun.
I wonder when it will occur to the Republicans that their President is a Billionaire. That he doesn't need and, indeed, may not want, another term and if he goes down; they will certainly go down with him!