Throughout the entire Republican National Convention (RNC), one question lingered persistently: What is the Republican Party for. That the party is for former President Donald Trump is almost unquestionable. The extent of Trump’s influence was evident everywhere, from solidarity ear bandages to the crowd’s unwavering enthusiasm during his lengthy acceptance speech on Thursday night. The RNC exemplified that the populist takeover of the Republican Party is complete. On issues like trade, immigration, and foreign alliances, Trump’s insurgency has decisively overpowered the old guard.
However, elements of the traditional Republican Party remain intact. Unlike Europe’s far-right populist parties, the GOP is staunchly opposed to the welfare state and progressive taxation. It continues to advocate for banning abortion and demonstrates a strong anti-union stance. Vice Presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance, who supposedly embodies the party’s pro-worker populism, holds a 0 percent score from the AFL-CIO. On foreign policy, the GOP isn’t strictly isolationist: it promotes increased military spending and a confrontational stance toward China while dismantling military alliances and the American-led global trade regime.
Ideologically, the GOP is a complex entity, an amalgamation of disparate parts brought to life by Trump. It’s a Frankenstein’s party, with Trump and his loyalists as the head, yet not in full control of all its limbs. The coalition is so new that it hasn’t yet stabilized into a consistent set of policy commitments. Trump gets his way on key issues like democracy, trade, and immigration, while other factions assert influence where they can. The wealthy elite control tax and regulation policies; social conservatives dominate on issues like abortion and LGBT rights.
The documents like the RNC platform and Project 2025 provide insights into the GOP’s future ambitions. Policies such as ending the Justice Department’s independence or proposing the “largest Deportation Program in history” reflect Trump’s influence. Yet, in areas where traditional Republican views prevail, the old guard’s influence is apparent. Project 2025’s chapter on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is business-friendly, and the GOP platform emphasizes slashing regulations and pursuing additional tax cuts. Project 2025 also advocates rescinding regulations prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, and sex characteristics.
When there’s a conflict between Trump’s instincts and traditional Republican agendas, outcomes vary. Trump has solidified his stance on trade, making protectionism a party orthodoxy. However, on abortion, Trump’s attempts to moderate the party’s stance have had mixed results. For instance, he removed a call for a national abortion ban from the GOP platform, but abortion bans remain a core part of the party identity. Both Vance and Project 2025 support using an old law to ban the distribution of mifepristone, the abortion pill, by mail.
Donald Trump Effect
Part of this confusion stems from Trump’s personality. Conservative writer Ramesh Ponnuru notes that Trump lacks the discipline and focus needed to run a strict ideological movement. Trump’s objectives are malleable, easily influenced by flatterers and lacking consistency. This fluidity complicates the GOP’s policy stance.
The American right has always been a coalition of different groups. Post-World War II conservatism was a “three-legged stool” of free-market libertarians, social conservatives, and foreign policy hawks. These groups often disagreed, resulting in ideological contradictions. The “small government” conservatives aimed to build the world’s largest army and police private lives. American conservatism was an alliance, often depending on the radical fringe for success. Extremist groups like the John Birch Society, which saw communist conspiracies everywhere, worked with mainstream conservatives to combat liberals. Historian David Austin Walsh describes this as a right-wing “popular front.”
The far right leads, with fusionists following. Despite this shift, the coalition remains a coalition. The GOP’s structure reflects its complicated history and the diverse factions within it.
The Republican Party, dominated by Trump, is a coalition of old and new elements. Trump’s influence is undeniable, yet traditional Republican ideals persist. The party’s future will depend on how these different factions navigate their shared and conflicting interests.
