As Trump Veers From Traditional GOP, He Bends It Toward Him
A strange paradox is unfolding in Washington right now: As Donald Trump acts less and less like a traditional Republican, traditional Republicans have become more and more afraid to cross him.
In just the past couple of weeks, Mr. Trump has shredded the traditional Republican playbook on free trade. He has turned traditional GOP internationalism upside down by launching a feud with Canada and the European allies, while making nice with a North Korean dictator.
His administration has pursued immigration policies, particularly by sending thousands of undocumented immigrant children to mass detention centers, that make elected Republican leaders in Washington visibly uncomfortable. Yet at the same time, Republican leaders in Congress have squelched an effort to block his decision to impose tariffs on trade with America’s closest allies. An attempt by congressional moderates to forge a new path on immigration policy died. A Republican bill to prevent the president from unilaterally ending the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election by special counsel Robert Mueller has been blocked in the Senate.
(snip)
How to explain this seeming disconnect? Actually, there are three related but separate explanations. One is the nature of the implicit bargain Republicans have made with the president. The second is Mr. Trump’s tightening grip on the party’s base. And the third is simple fear of crossing him.
(snip)
From the outset of the Trump era, traditional Republicans, and many conservative activists, essentially have accepted a kind of deal with the president. He would provide them help on three issues of great importance to most mainstream Republicans: tax cuts, deregulation and appointment of conservative judges. In return, Mr. Trump would demand that the party bend away from its traditional policies and toward him on three other core issues: trade, immigration and foreign policy.
From the outset, mainstream Republicans have struggled with this bargain, and tried to figure out whether the net outcome is positive or negative for them and their party. Right now, they seem to think it’s a net positive—perhaps because of the way Republicans around the country have solidified behind Mr. Trump. In this month’s Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, 84% of Republicans said they approve of the job Mr. Trump is doing. ..That solidifying support at the base has made other Republicans reluctant to cross Mr. Trump—as has his own demonstrated willingness to go after them publicly if they do.
(snip)
It’s also unclear that loyalty to Mr. Trump will look as wise in the general election and beyond. Only 43% of independent voters say they approve of the job the president is doing. Among college-educated women, the share is just 31%.
When those voters enter the equation in the fall, the picture may look different—and it will look radically different if Republicans lose control of one or both houses of Congress in November.
But for now, and for the first time, it’s clear that Mr. Trump’s hold on the Republican Party is growing tighter.
Write to Gerald F. Seib at jerry.seib@wsj.com
https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-trump-veers-from-traditional-gop-he-bends-it-toward-him-1529331685
= new reply since forum marked as read
