Rick Wilson

What Trump hath wrought

The backlash to the US President has begun. The GOP should not be surprised

issue 15 September 2018

 Washington, DC

‘At least it isn’t called All The President’s Women.’

Republicans observing a rising wave of liberal and progressive candidates, policies and election results in the United States may wish to blame Democrats such as Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, or billionaire donors like George Soros or Tom Steyer. They’re missing the mark. The real cause of political disaster coming at the GOP like a Cat 5 hurricane is none other than President Donald J. Trump.

Everywhere American Republicans turn, they see progressives and liberals more energised than in any election cycle in recent memory and for one reason: Trump. Like so much of what Trump does, the effect he promised to have on American politics is the opposite of what he has delivered. His followers expected that a wave of robust nationalist populism would sweep like-minded Trump-style candidates into office on the crest of waves of popular legislation, executive action and a new, permanent political realignment.

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