Republicans Will Learn Governing is Harder than Winning
Governing is harder than winning an election. Governing effectively is even harder. We’re watching this in real time for Trump and congressional Republicans.
Governing is even more difficult for Republicans who have to contend with opposition from Democrats — and their multiple deep-pocketed and confrontational allies. This includes governors, mayors, and school boards pledging to block presidential policies. Plus, they must overcome the legacy media, many already criticizing GOP policies, politicians and priorities—and, highlighting and supporting criticisms leveled by the Left. But Team Trump knows how to overcome all of that.
However, governing effectively gets even harder for Republicans when they beat each other up, questioning the policies or motives of their “friends,” or when they put egos or personalities above success. Various segments of the Trump coalition have gone so far as to call others traitors — suggesting that they want to kick out some members of the coalition, or that things would be better without some members. If this continues, governing could become almost impossible.
The last few weeks have shown the challenges of governing. How does President-elect Trump “make America great again:” How to secure the border and jump start the economy? How to compete in a global economy, keeping up with China? The focus is on securing the border — but how many legal immigrants do we want? What should the GOP’s priorities be? How should they balance conflicts in the agenda?
Some Trump supporters are mad at Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Others are mad at those who are mad at Elon. Various factions of the Trump coalition are questioning the substance and even the motives of other Trump supporters. Disagreements are over immigration, guest-worker visas (H-1B) and what’s “wrong” with American students and our workforce? What’s wrong with employers?
At the same time, the slim GOP House majority is fighting over who should be Speaker — echoes of 2023. President-elect Trump has endorsed Speaker Johnson for re-election for countless reasons, not the least of which is the practicality of keeping the trains running on time and focusing on the bigger issues the GOP was elected to fix.
Trump’s decisive victory was due in part to building a broad and diverse coalition, and even receiving the votes of people who decided that the Biden/Harris administration had failed them. Some Trump voters and even supporters voted for Biden in 2020. The coalition’s breadth was its electoral strength — now it could be its governing challenge.
It’s like a European coalition government with several political parties: MAGA diehards, Vivek, Elon and those who recognize the importance of the First Amendment, Nikki Haley and GOP loyalists, Tulsi Gabbard and Democrats who recognized the fanaticism of Democrat politicians. Add in African Americans and Hispanics seeking an economic turnaround and safety in our cities, and a diverse GOP from JD Vance to Rand Paul and Brian Fitzpatrick — plus RFK Jr. and his supporters.
They all agreed that Biden’s America was going in the wrong direction, that America and Americans were not better off than four years ago. But, they have varied priorities, and while many goals or values overlap, some do not.
Together, they were motivated to support Trump based on his closing argument to the American people: “They broke it. I’ll fix it.” The Democrats and their allies have broken (or are still breaking) many parts of our society, culture, federal budget, laws, and even the Constitution. But at times, Team Trump disagrees on which broken thing ought to be fixed first — and how to fix the problems.
Despite what many on the left and right are saying — and despite the despair among some of the Trump coalition — issue debates are a good thing. They are good, when the debates are among friends who are committed to shared goals. And there’s a commitment to fixing problems, not just complaining about them or blaming the Left.
Debates mean we care. It’s healthy.
Can you think of the last time Democrats had a debate over priorities, policies or legislation? They expect — even demand — uniformity on the border, spending, DEI, abortion, and climate. When in doubt, democrat politicians just spend money, expand government, and congratulate each other on intentions, speeches and protests. Then it’s on to their next “crisis.” Too many don’t seem to truly care about results: it’s about feelings and virtue signaling. And the legacy media helps them deny bad outcomes; changes the subject, or explains that bad is actually good or necessary (e.g., Covid mandates, gas prices, inflation, riots, immigration open borders.)
Yes, Trump and congressional Republicans have a lot to fix. And Team Trump is having their family fights — the first of many.
The Biden/Harris administration put in policies that harmed most parts of America and they’re still busy creating problems, making them worse, or ignoring them. Their left-wing allies have been wreaking damage in our public schools, cities, and institutions. Violent crime. An open border. Strategic reserve at all time low. Wars across the globe. DEI. Inflation. Hostages.
Yes, “they” broke it. Will Team Trump unite to fix it? Please debate and discuss, but the goal of debate must be to find consensus. America needs you to find unity of purpose and focus — and they’re trusting the Trump coalition to get to work.
Guy Ciarrocchi is a Senior Fellow at the Commonwealth Foundation. He writes for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania. Follow Guy at @PaSuburbsGuy.
