The Republican Party is in trouble, and the reason is pretty simple. Donald Trump has too much control over it.
Once known for advocating for smaller government, balanced budgets, and strong national defense, the party has now become a platform for Trump’s personal grievances and divisive rhetoric. If Republicans want to remain relevant and competitive, they need to remove Trump’s dead weight and overhaul their entire strategy.
Before Trump came onto the scene, the Republican Party’s platform was straightforward, maybe a little boring, but clear about what it stood for. Today, the 2024 GOP platform reads like a Trump rally speech—loud, brash, and dead wrong. The focus is on issues like immigration, abortion, and so-called “Making American Great Again.”
Trump will always put his and the needs of his bases first and hide it behind the guise of patriotism, but the Republican Party is alienating key groups like young people, immigrants, LGBTQ communities, and Black and Latino voters who care about healthcare, jobs, and education—issues Trump doesn’t seem interested in addressing seriously.
There are some Republicans, however, who are swayed by the influence of Trumpism. Longtime political strategist Tara Setmayer, for example, formally left the Republican Party after the 2020 election when Trump refused to concede. His wild, unfounded claims of election fraud and the party’s willingness to let him get away with it was her breaking point. Setmayer’s story isn’t unique. There are plenty of Republicans who feel the same way—disillusioned and exhausted by the chaos Trump brings.
Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results and his constant push of election denialism have hurt the GOP’s reputation. Instead of focusing on solutions to real problems like inflation or fixing the healthcare system, or the student debt crisis, the party is stuck fighting battles over the past. While Trump is obsessed with reliving his loss, level-headed voters are concerned about moving forward.
The Republican Party has to distance itself from Trump and go back to the principles that used to define it. This won’t be easy because Trump still holds a lot of sway, but the longer they wait, the harder it will become to move beyond his influence.
One of the biggest changes Republicans need to make is toning down the extreme rhetoric. Anti-trans policies and fearmongering about immigration might excite Trump’s most hardcore supporters, but it’s pushing everyone else away. If the GOP wants to win on a national level, they need to broaden their appeal. They can’t afford to be a one-note party that only speaks to the far-right.
That means returning to the rule of law, respect for democratic institutions, and a willingness to work within the system—not undermine it. Trump’s authoritarian behavior, like trying to overturn election results, has done serious damage to the party’s credibility. If Republicans want to be taken seriously, they need leaders who are willing to stand up for democratic principles and push back against those who want to tear them down.
