If November 3rd was purported to provide clarity for the Republican Party moving forward, it fell decidedly short. Instead, it ignited an intra party civil war that threatens to persist far beyond the inauguration of a new president. President Trump embarked on a self-defeating journey to find election fraud, attacked party members for alleged insufficient loyalty, and now seeks to overturn the results of the election to remain in office. Until January 5th, this immaturity appeared to be completely immaterial in its effect. But as the weeks wore on, and the cloud of the Georgia Senate runoff elections hung over Congressional Republicans, questions arose about how much infighting the party could withstand before it would come back to bite them.
President Trump made an enemy of everyone who chose not to tow his line. Despite over 50 dismissed lawsuits and subsequent state certifications of the Electoral College vote, Trump pressed on with the same stubbornness that he exhibited on election night two months ago, as if nothing had changed. He selfishly turned the party into a loyalty test of his soon to be expired rule. In doing so, Congressional Republicans, swing state Republicans, and even cabinet members were asked to disobey the Constitution and the will of the voters. Party relations had deteriorated at the worst possible moment.
Georgia delivered the verdict last night, handing Democrats control of the Senate and empowering President-elect Biden’s legislative and judicial agenda for the next two years. A formerly reliable red state rejected the last two months of Republican incompetence and opted for two extremely liberal Senators. Fervent Trump loyalists who hoped to send a message to establishment Republicans unwittingly delivered power to Biden and his new Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The implications of this result are far-reaching and wholly negative for anyone seeking to advance conservatism at the national level. Biden can now confirm all of his cabinet and judicial nominees, along with budgetary reforms such as tax increases. He can pass a bloated stimulus package with direct payments that better resemble political bribes. Schumer and Senate Democrats could even end the filibuster rule if Republicans choose not to cut deals with the unified Democrat government.
For all the apocalyptic talk from President Trump and his supporters about the emergence of socialism if Democrats are elected, it rings hollow when their very actions hasten its rise. Shameless self-interest is his only calling and the events after the Presidential election demonstrate that.
Despite his defeat, President Trump had a chance to fuel the permanent relevancy of the America First wing of the Republican Party. His loss was narrow and Republicans could point to a number of victories that just before the election they would never have predicted. His enormous popular vote achievement and over-performance of expectations enabled him to yield power over the direction of the party. In sharing many of the goals of the movement he built, I saw an opportunity for Trump to leave office as an influential power broker who determined where the party went and who carried the mantle of America First conservatism.
Unfortunately, the last two months revealed that President Trump had different plans. His contempt for actual leadership and rejection of the lawful results of the presidential election prove his unfitness for office and any form of leadership post-presidency. Many conservatives elected to follow the whims of an unstable and narcissistic man instead of the ideals he ran on in 2016. There was a time conservatives despised worship of political leaders, but that day has since passed. It is time for conservatives who have staunchly defended this president to cut ties and condemn his infatuation with autocracy. He no longer deserves anyone’s support.
And so the Trump era comes to a disheartening end. The goals of reforming the Republican Party and advancing a new brand of conservatism were abandoned in favor of satisfying the ego trips of a deeply flawed man. He shepherded his base into political radicalism and broke down any level of institutional trust. In doing so, he has embarrassed the Republican Party, the rule of law, and the reputation of the United States as the shining city on a hill. His exit from office could not come soon enough.
