One person’s brand has remade the Grand Old Party completely: Donald Trump.
The Republican Party was founded in 1854 by former members of the Whig, Democratic, and Free Soil parties who opposed the expansion of slavery into western territories. It has gone through several periods of evolvement:
- Abraham Lincoln’s presidency led America through the Civil War.
- The pro-business era under Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover from 1896 to 1932.
- It fought the New Deal Coalition from 1932 to 1980, emphasizing business interests, conservative social values, and anti-Communism.
- From 1980–2008, the party embraced neoconservative thinking, insisting that America should be the world’s police, a disease that afflicts the party to this day.
- During the Obama years, the rise of the Tea Party wing in the GOP minority fought Obama’s policies tooth and nail as they transformed America like never before (Obamacare, DACA, DEI policies).
- The Trump era, 2016 – present.
The Neocon movement fought Trump at every turn during his first administration. Eliot Cohen, Robert Kagan, Max Boot, Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, George Will, Bill Kristol, John Bolton, and Mitt Romney defected en masse from the GOP to mount a resistance that came to be known as the Never Trumper movement. Mike Pence, Chris Christie, and Nikki Haley became recent converts. Every one of them has ridden off into the political sunset. If they have a political career left at all, the resurrection would have to be blessed by Trump.
As one of the wealthiest politicians ever to grace the American landscape, with golf resorts, luxury hotels, and apartments worldwide, Trump has been consistently shunned by the coastal elite. The treatment accorded to him—a person who made a name for himself hobnobbing with the elite as a dashing playboy in New York’s real estate scene, a casino owner in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, and a star of a reality show on NBC/Universal—is a remarkable paradox. The Left’s complaints—as repeatedly stated by President Biden in his 22-minute interview with Lester Holt on Monday—are rooted in Trump’s political style, such as mean tweets that were inherently divisive. They contend that Trump exaggerates, lies, and hides the truth; he is not prone to accepting responsibility for his actions and is likely to blame someone else. The Left ardently believes that Trump threatens democracy, particularly his claims about election fraud and his response to the 2020 election results, a point Biden repeatedly made in the Holt interview.
The fascinating truth is that all of these charges, repeated over and over and over again and amplified through the media megaphone, have made Trump even more popular with the average American voter. A single impeachment would have ended a person’s political future. Trump not only endured two impeachments but an 18-month-long scripted, partisan J6 investigation, the full wrath and fire of the federal government through an independent counsel, and a lawfare effort resulting in 93 criminal charges. It confounds the Left that none of these charges stick.
What a liberal does not understand is that the people making the charges are themselves inherently corrupt. It is this realization that the average American voter appreciates and appreciates very well.
The voter now knows that the Ukraine impeachment with Zelenskyy, orchestrated by Congressman Adam Schiff and Alexander Vindman, was a total hoax. The Biden administration and the neocons have sent over $200 billion to keep the military-industrial complex alive, yet Ukraine continues to lose territory to Russia. Ukraine continues to struggle with corruption at the highest levels of government.
Zelenskyy, whose term ended on May 19, continues to be treated by Washington as a royal, although he would probably lose reelection back home. It is little wonder that people do not buy the charge that Trump’s phone call to Zelenskyy was so undemocratic or unprincipled that it warranted an impeachment.
On the lawfare front, Trump’s wins have been nothing short of extraordinary. When Colorado, Maine, and Illinois tried to ban Trump from appearing on the ballot, the Supreme Court intervened, not in a liberal/conservative decision. By 9-0, the Court put an end to this state nonsense of interference. Biden conveniently avoided talking about this case, and Holt didn’t challenge him.
The Court granted Trump 6-3 presidential immunity for legal acts. This principle was in vogue for over 40 years after Nixon – and was needlessly challenged by the Biden administration. Again, this was not a conservative/liberal decision—it was simply affirming what was already established practice, a fact that the average voter sees clearly. Yet Biden repeatedly called out the Supreme Court’s decision as six conservatives doing Trump’s bidding. And Holt did not challenge him.
Finally, federal judge Cannon threw out the classified documents case against Trump, ruling that Jack Smith’s very appointment violated the Constitution. To the average voter who does not understand the deep technical legal analysis in the judgment, the decision was nevertheless poetic justice. When Biden held on to classified documents—he was not even supposed to because he was then Vice President—his Special Counsel went so easy on him that Biden was not even indicted.
As Trump stands on the cusp of accepting the GOP’s nomination for the third consecutive time – a record in recent memory – his critics are cursing under their breath. Teflon Don is in the spotlight of the world because of – not despite – all of their attacks and efforts. And when Trump survived an assassin’s bullet and immediately had the presence of mind to rise and say, “Fight, fight, fight,” before walking to his limousine under his own power, the image of him as a Lincolnesque leader in the minds of the voter got forever imprinted.
And now Trump, through his selection of JD Vance, a 39-year-old rags-to-riches personality, as his VP, is on the cusp of changing the GOP for multiple generations.
The GOP’s new ideology under Trump is not Republican, Libertarian, Conservative, Liberal, or Independent. It is simply to Make America Great Again. The average voter feels that there’s nothing wrong with that, given how hopelessly the current Beltway crowd has ransacked America’s power and reduced its world standing.
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. Israel’s Defense Minister Says Gaza Operations Allow Hostage Deal – Reuters
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told his U.S. counterpart that military operations in the Gaza Strip have created conditions that would enable a hostage deal to be reached, Gallant’s office said.
Gallant commented during an overnight call with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, his office said.
2. Smoke On The Horizon – Israel And Hezbollah Edge Closer To All-Out War – BBC
If the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah (backed by Iran) escalates to all-out war, it could dwarf the destruction in Gaza.
The situation could draw in Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, spread embers around the Middle East, and embroil the U.S. Iran itself could intervene directly. The United Nations has warned of a “catastrophe beyond imagination.”
Without a diplomatic solution between Israel and Hezbollah – two old enemies – all-out war may be coming, if not now, then later.
3. Israel’s West Bank Policy Is Dooming Two-State Solution: UN Chief – AFP
Through administrative and legal steps, Israel is changing the geography of the West Bank, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement read by his chief of staff, Courtenay Rattray, during a meeting of the Security Council.
“Recent developments are driving a stake through the heart of any prospect for a two-state solution,” said the UN chief. He said Israel is taking steps to extend sovereignty over the West Bank.
4. Lavrov Says Russia Willing To Work With Any U.S. Leader- Reuters
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a UN press conference that Moscow is willing to work with any elected U.S. leader willing to engage in “equitable, mutually respectful dialogue.”
On Donald Trump’s nomination as the Republican presidential candidate, Lavrov said that there “was still dialogue underway” despite sanctions under the 2016-2020 Trump administration. Trump has said he would resolve the war in Ukraine quickly if he is reelected.
5. Russia Says Prisoner Swap With Ukraine Involving 190 POWs Completed- RFE/RL
Russia and Ukraine said they have completed another prisoner swap, with the latest exchange involving 190 prisoners of war mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
This marks the fifth time this year that the United Arab Emirates facilitated a prisoner swap, beginning on January 3 with the return of 230 Ukrainian nationals to Kyiv and 248 Russians freed by Ukraine.
6. Belarus Introduces Visa-Free Entry For Citizens Of 35 European Nations – RFE/RL
As of July 19, citizens of the European Union’s member-states, Britain, Norway, Switzerland, and Balkan countries, can stay in Belarus for up to 30 days without visas.
Russia has no permanent land-border checkpoints with Belarus and has yet to comment on the decision. Since 2022, citizens of Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have been allowed to enter Belarus without visas.
7. China Halts Nuclear Arms Talks With U.S. Over Taiwan Support- Al Jazeera
China and the U.S. had begun nuclear weapons discussions in November as part of a bid to ease mistrust ahead of a summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden.
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the U.S.’s arms sales to Taiwan, a territory that it claims, had “seriously compromised the political atmosphere for continuing the arms-control consultations.” Analysts said China’s move could potentially set back global arms-control efforts.
8. Chinese Officials Tour Foreign-Invested Firms In Bid To Stem Exodus – RFA
According to official documents, Chinese officials have been visiting foreign-invested companies to understand their “current problem and difficulties” amid plummeting foreign direct investment in the country.
The move comes as the ruling Chinese Communist Party holds its secretive third plenary session amid promises of “reforms” that will kickstart the country’s flagging economy amid an ongoing exodus of foreign capital.
9. Chip Stocks Drop On Fears U.S. To Toughen China Rules- BBC
The fall in stock prices came after Bloomberg News reported that the U.S. government is preparing to impose its tightest curbs yet on semiconductor-making equipment to China if firms like ASML and Tokyo Electron continue to give the country access to their advanced chip technology.
Comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump that Taiwan, the biggest producer of chips, should pay for its defense added to the concerns.
9. Vietnam Files New Claim On Boundary In South China Sea- RFA
Vietnam has submitted a claim to the U.N. over an extended continental shelf in the central area of the South China Sea, a month after the Philippines made a similar move.
The South China Sea is believed to be rich in marine resources and oil deposits. The Philippines was willing to hold talks with Vietnam to “achieve a mutually beneficial solution to South China Sea issues.”
10. EU Court Of Justice Rejects TikTok’s Challenge To Digital Gatekeeper Status – UPI
TikTok’s Chinese owner, Bytedance, argued that its global market value was mostly from operations in China and, thus, its impact on the EU market was not significant enough to warrant the designation under the Digital Markets Act. Still, the EU court rejected its legal arguments.
“The Commission was fully entitled to consider that Bytedance was a gatekeeper. In that connection, it observed that it was common ground that Bytedance met the quantitative thresholds laid down in the DMA.”
11. European Commission Loses Court Challenge Over Effort To Block Vaccine Contract Details – UPI
The European Court of Justice handed the European Commission a rare defeat, nullifying its decision to keep secret parts of its COVID-19 vaccine contracts after Green Party Parliament members demanded full access.
The loss could hurt European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s chances of winning a second term as head of the body after she supported blocking certain parts of the contract.
12. Libya, Tunisia Urge Europe To Increase Aid To Help Tackle Migration Crisis – Al Jazeera
In his opening remarks at the beginning of the Trans-Mediterranean Migration Forum, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah said countries “have a moral responsibility” towards the people “who cross the desert and the sea” hoping to reach Europe.
The North African country is a main departure point for refugees and migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan African countries, risking dangerous sea journeys to seek better lives.
13. Meta Decides To Suspend Its Generative AI Tools in Brazil – Reuters
Meta Platforms said it decided to suspend the use of generative artificial intelligence tools in Brazil in response to the government’s objections to its new privacy policy regarding personal data and AI.
Earlier this month, Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) ruled that the company would need to adapt its privacy policy to exclude the section related to the processing of personal data for generative AI training.
With more than 200 million people, Brazil is a crucial market for Meta.
14. Irregular Sleep Might Increase Risk Of Diabetes – HealthDay News
Sleeping long hours one night but only a few hours the next can be unhealthy, with a new study finding “irregular” sleep patterns could be a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.
“Irregular” sleep was defined as sleep duration that changed by an average of 60 minutes or more between nights. Compared to people whose nightly sleep varied less, people with an irregular sleep pattern were 34% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.
Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
