Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley’s persistence in the Republican nomination race through Michigan and Super Tuesday reflects a deep division within her party.
The Trumpian influence has taken over the Republican National Committee (RNC), with virtually no distinction between the Republican and Trump establishments.
The new national chairman of the RNC, Michael Whatley, earned Trump’s favor by supporting his claims of election fraud. Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law, serves as co-chair, and Chris LaCivita, a top Trump campaign advisor, is responsible for day-to-day operations. They have initiated a purge of staffers deemed disloyal.
Trump (Credits: Bloomberg)
Donald Trump Jr. asserts that the old GOP establishment is defunct, replaced by the America First and MAGA movement as the new Republican Party. Trump himself has described himself as a nationalist and rejects the conservative label, instead identifying as a man of common sense.
Despite Trump’s claims, exit polls from primary elections show that a sizable minority of GOP voters do not identify as part of the MAGA movement. While many Republicans may still support Trump, the party is not entirely Trumpian.
Trump (Credits: CBS News)
The RNC’s transformation into a Trump-dominated entity is significant for a movement that has aimed to take over the party. Trump’s influence has led to the backing of loyalists in primary races, even if they have weaker general election prospects than more traditional Republicans.
While a Trump victory in November would validate this strategy, a loss would leave the Trump-aligned GOP with no one to blame but themselves, as they now represent the party’s establishment.
