The Republican Primaries became a battle of Donald Trump against all the others. As each candidate withdrew from the race the acrimony against the businessman who decided to enter politics became more apparent from the defeated candidates and also from other Republican leaders. This antagonism never disappeared and has now become a regular part of political debate.
Political parties
Political parties give voice to many opinions, for this reason dissent is not uncommon in internal debates. It would be sufficient to read international newspapers to see current examples of this in Great Britain, Italy, France, Australia and other countries.
Yet the case of dissent within the Republican Party is beginning to reach levels that should worry Party leaders as it is directed at the man who is, at least in theory, the titular head of the Party, President Donald Trump.
During the presidential campaign such prominent members of the GOP as John McCain, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and even Republican House Leader Paul Ryan were involved in very public differences of opinion with the man who now occupies the Oval Office.
This dissent was reciprocated by #Donald Trump who had no hesitation in replying to criticism in the campaign rallies, interviews, regular tweets and finally even from the White House. This week saw an unusual contribution to this acrimony with the release by Breitbart News of an audio tape from the presidential campaign period in which Paul Ryan stated he would not defend Donald Trump.
Given the presence of the former Breitbart chief Steve Bannon in the White House this leak could only be another incident in this running battle.
Contestation
The fact that he had won what was considered an “unwinnable” election gave Trump some freedom of action by the other members of the Party, but since the Inauguration on January 8th this previously solid support has begun to erode.
The public protests against the repeal and replacement of the AFA demanded by the President has created concerns by Republican Congressmen and Senators for their seats at next year’s midterms. These concerns became open worry when they were followed by the tweets accusing the Obama Administration of wiretapping Trump Tower during the election, which only uncovered the hidden worries of the accusations of Russian hacking of the election which had unnerved some republicans.
Over the last few days Senator Lindsay O. Graham, House Intelligence Committee Chairman David Nunes and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley have all openly criticized the President over wiretapping allegations. Until then these Republicans had solidly backed the President.
This break in the wall of solidarity should worry the Oval Office.
Perfect storm
The series of accusations, allegations, claims true and false together with the fears of an increasing number of politicians for their re-election are creating the conditions for a perfect storm between the President and his Party.
These conditions may well worsen over the next week when FBI Director James Comey testifies to the House Intelligence Committee when he will be asked to provide proof of the wiretapping allegations, as well as on the allegations of Russian hacking in the presidential election.
In continuing his war of words with the GOP President Trump may well be destroying the very support that he will need in the future to be able to carry out his planned agenda.
This coming storm may well force Republicans to decide between their personal political futures and that of the President. Over the next few weeks the future direction of the country may well be decided in a manner that nobody can now predict.
