The GOP Should Not Ditch Trumpism

Republicans would be wise to not challenge former President Donald Trump nor his legacy. Nationalism in American politics is here to stay.

Politicians who recognize this and run on nationalist issues such as immigration restriction, restrained foreign policy, law & order, and a pro-America trade policy, will be rewarded at the polls.

Last month, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul made a very astute observation before the House voted to impeach then-President Donald Trump. Paul maintained that there would be a large exodus of voters from the party if GOP senators vote to convict Trump in a second impeachment trial. He also believed that this impeachment is “purely a partisan thing.”

In a previous interview with Fox News, Rand Paul told show host Laura Ingraham that he believes roughly one-third of GOP members will bail from the party. The Democrat-controlled House impeached Trump on January 13, 2021 for “inciting” an insurrection. Only 10 Republican members of the U.S. House voted to impeach President Donald Trump, which made Trump the first president in American history to be impeached twice. 

For a conviction to occur, a two-third vote or 67 Senators are needed. This vote will likely fail since there are not enough Republicans who will likely vote to convict. The political fallout from such a vote would be massive. Lots of Senators would likely face tough primaries. Win or lose, primaries are something that politicians strive to avoid. Politicians prefer pleasure over pain. A primary would hurt them in terms of resources spent, ego, and potential growth in political power. 

If Republicans want to avoid nasty primaries from fierce nationalist challenges, they should not vote to convict former president Trump and actually adopt some of his nationalist policies such as immigration restriction and a restrained foreign policy.