Edition: English | 中文简体 | 中文繁体 Монгол
Homepage > Panview

Trump must overcome dissent from GOP Establishment

Editor: 李琨 丨CCTV.com

05-10-2016 16:11 BJT

By Zhang Zhixin, associate researcher, AmericanStudies, Chinese Contemporary International Relations Institute

Ohio Governor John Kasich's withdrawal from the primaries for the Republican Party nomination of President 2016, places real estate mogul Donald Trump as the GOP's presumptive nominee for the White House.

 

Trump's biggest challenge remains to unite the Republican Party, and to placate conservatives. The road to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland might not be smooth.

Bigwigs refuse to support Trump

Ever since his campaign started, Trump blasted GOP leaders for chasing after money, and not caring about Republican candidates losing the last two presidential election cycles. His remarks have attracted overwhelming support from ordinary Republican voters.

The mainstream media has accused Trump of acting like a clown, but such attacks have helped him to rise in polls. To the Republican elite, accepting Trump is as difficult as swallowing a fly. Although they could not stop Trump, they remain reluctant to reconcile with him.

The best demonstration for solidarity will be at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this July. GOP bigwigs and factions are expected to cheer for Trump.

However, two former presidents - George and George W. Bush, as well as Jeb Bush have already pledged not to vote for Trump and have encouraged their wealthy donors to support the likely Democrat Party nominee, Hillary Clinton.

The last two Republican Party presidential candidates - Senator John McCain of Arizona and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney - suggested they will not attend the GOP Convention. However, McCain has issued his endorsement of Trump.

Religious conservatives - former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said they might not endorse Trump.  Yet, libertarian-leaning Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has pledged full support for Trump.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has also refused to endorse Trump, but his actions have caused some concerns with his constituents. Recent poll numbers have disclosed that he's lost much support in his Congressional District in Wisconsin and could lose his re-election bid to Paul Nehlen.

Ryan has encouraged party members to attend the GOP convention, but he still refuses to endorse Trump.

However, Trump does not seem to care that the Republican Party Establishment despises him, which is part of his charm to supporters. He does  want to mend relations on their terms, since millions of his voters believe he should continue fighting the Washington Establishment crowd.

How to bridge the split?

Trump has enjoyed surprising success during the primaries. He adopted an approach that captured support from grassroots activists who feel marginalized. 

Those folks are upset that the GOP has shifted in a Leftist direction, while middle-class economic prospects have crashed and burned. They blame the elite class for promoting immorality and destroying traditional cultural values.

Trump has endeared himself to populists, but that has caused a rift with the Republican leadership. Actually, Trump should not be identified as a member of the radical right wing. His policies more closely align with moderates not conservatives.

On the economy and trade, he opposes free trade agreements. He does not endorse globalization, since his grassroots voters are against the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) and TTIP (Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership). Trump favors a compromised approach to protect American jobs and put the USA first.

In regard to foreign Affairs and national security, Trump does not want Washington to act as a world police officer, and calls for the US' Asia-Pacific allies to stand on their own feet, and requests the European Union self-fund NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
  
He plans to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and make Mexico pay for it. He would permit CIA operatives to waterboard terrorist suspects during interrogations, and would temporarily ban foreign-born Muslims from entering the US.

Trump believes his measures can strengthen border security enforcement and prevent terrorist attacks in the country.  Additionally, Trump has repeatedly claimed he would impose high tariffs on Chinese imports. However, the losses would outweigh the gains if he provokes a trade war.

Nonetheless, Trump said he would repair relations with Beijing to achieve mutual benefits on both sides without engaging in external interference of China's sovereign affairs. Accordingly, to create Republican Party solidarity in order to challenge the Democratic Party nominee should be top priority for the GOP.

Some Republicans are already supporting Hillary Clinton as they join the NeverTrump faction. Trump could lose the election on account of the sore losers in the Republican Party. Trump should make some adjustments to his campaign to ensure victory in November.

 

Zhang Zhixin, associate researcher, AmericanStudies, Chinese Contemporary International Relations Institute


( The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )

 

 

Panview offers a new window of understanding the world as well as China through the views, opinions, and analysis of experts. We also welcome outside submissions, so feel free to send in your own editorials to "globalopinion@vip.cntv.cn" for consideration.

Panview offers an alternative angle on China and the rest of the world through the analyses and opinions of experts. We also welcome outside submissions, so feel free to send in your own editorials to "globalopinion@vip.cntv.cn" for consideration.

 

Follow us on

  • Please scan the QR Code to follow us on Instagram

  • Please scan the QR Code to follow us on Wechat