Even Donald Trump acknowledges the improving economy under Joe Biden, going as far as claiming credit for it. On Fox Business, Trump recently attributed the surge in the stock market to expectations of his potential re-election.
Despite this, Trump’s poll numbers fail to reflect the economic progress, making it increasingly challenging for him to center his campaign around the economy. Nonetheless, Trump is likely to pivot towards immigration, an issue his loyalists in the GOP are adamant about not reforming before the November elections.
Trumpism mirrors the nihilism of the Tea Party movement, with figures like Michele Bachmann paving the way for Donald Trump’s rise. According to Harvard political scientist Theda Skocpol, the Tea Party had evolved into a faction advocating for obstructionism and Twitter-based politics by the time Trump emerged.
Donald Trump (Credits: Reuters)
The current GOP caucus, akin to the Tea Party, thrives on the notion of government failure to validate its belief that government is inherently flawed. In line with this, they seem inclined to sabotage any potential compromise that might benefit Biden’s re-election prospects, effectively aligning themselves with Trump’s agenda.
While Republicans have previously entertained the idea of legislative solutions for immigration, recent actions indicate a reluctance to act. Last December, Republicans withheld aid to Ukraine, linking it to border security, a move presumably aimed at appeasing Trump.
This push for border security amid debates over immigration reform illustrates the GOP’s focus on exploiting crises, such as the situation at the southern border, for political gain.
However, the Biden administration managed to broker a bipartisan border-security bill with Senate Democrats and Republican James Lankford. This $118 billion bill addresses border security, support for Ukraine and Israel, and humanitarian aid for various regions.
Despite initial bipartisan support, the MAGA faction, including Donald Trump Jr. and Representative Elise Stefanik, swiftly denounced the bill as an “open-border” deal, even before fully understanding its contents. House Speaker Mike Johnson, known for his allegiance to Trump, echoed this sentiment, declaring the bill “dead on arrival.”
Johnson’s alignment with Trump stems from his role in supporting Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. His elevation to the Speaker’s position underscores the influence of Trump loyalists within the party, as evidenced by his election denial and support for disruptive actions.
