Trump’s support for establishment candidates undermines his voters and the ‘America First’ agenda

Donald Trump’s​ case for ​the presidency is reinforced by the notion that he supports conservative policies and puts Americans’ needs first. However, ⁤his habit of endorsing ​establishment candidates who oppose‍ his agenda often undermines this assertion.

The latest ‍example‌ of this‌ phenomenon came last Thursday when Trump endorsed incumbent Sen. ⁢Roger Wicker in Mississippi’s upcoming⁣ 2024 ⁣GOP Senate primary. Writing on Truth⁤ Social, the former​ president claimed ⁢ Wicker is “a fantastic Senator for the Great State of Mississippi” and “is​ a Champion of ‍Conservative Values.” Wicker has served⁤ in the Senate since 2007 and, prior to⁢ that, starting in ⁤1995,‌ represented Mississippi’s 1st ⁢Congressional District in the House.

Contrary to Trump’s assertion, Wicker’s track ⁢record is hardly that of a rock-solid “conservative.” Within the past several years, Mississippi’s senior senator supported nearly every major omnibus spending bill that’s come⁣ across his desk. In the waning ‍weeks of ‍2022, for ​example, Wicker ​was one of 18 Senate Republicans to side ⁢with​ Democrats in advancing a pork-filled, $1.7 trillion ⁤spending package that effectively⁢ took away any and ​all⁣ leverage the House’s then-incoming⁣ Republican majority⁣ had over spending issues for most of 2023. That vote came months⁣ after Wicker backed a $1.5 trillion omnibus bill funding President Biden’s federal Covid ⁣vaccine mandate.

Wicker​ has ‍regularly supported shipping endless‌ amounts of U.S. taxpayer money to Ukraine. The Mississippi ⁤Republican was ⁤ one of ​22 Senate GOPers to help Democrats pass ​ a $95 billion foreign spending ⁤package that included⁢ funds ⁤for (mostly)‌ Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The measure did not, however, include provisions addressing the⁣ ongoing‌ invasion at the U.S.-Mexico⁣ border.

Wicker has also voted to confirm ​radical Biden appointees ​such as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of ⁤State Antony Blinken. The latter​ of‍ whom​ colluded with former intel officials to discredit the Hunter Biden laptop story ahead of the 2020 ‌election to help Joe.

A⁣ Tale As Old As Time

Wicker​ is hardly the only establishment candidate ⁢to‍ receive Trump’s support‌ during a critically important Republican primary.

Months ahead ⁤of the 2020 North Carolina Senate GOP ​primary, ⁢for instance, ‌the​ former president preemptively endorsed incumbent⁤ Sen. Thom Tillis among a crowded field ⁤of challengers. In​ his remarks, Trump praised the Republican senator as someone who is “Strong on the Border and fights hard‌ against​ Illegal Immigration.” Yet, Tillis has‍ demonstrated the exact opposite behavior since⁣ winning reelection.

Prior to Republicans assuming control⁤ of the House in January 2023, Tillis, along with Arizona Sen.⁤ Kyrsten Sinema, reportedly pressed Senate leadership to fast-track consideration of their bipartisan “immigration reform” bill before Congress’s lame-duck session ⁢ended. These “reforms” allegedly included provisions establishing a so-called “pathway to citizenship” — which ⁣usually​ involves bypassing the pathway that ‌already exists — for 2 million illegal immigrants ‌brought to‌ the U.S. as minors.

Much like​ Wicker, Tillis ⁣has also been a big supporter ​of dumping U.S.​ taxpayer dollars into Ukraine. Ahead of ⁤the Senate’s passage of the aforementioned $95 billion foreign spending⁤ package⁤ — which Tillis supported — the North Carolina Republican ⁣insulted the intelligence of conservative voters by claiming: “Our base cannot possibly know⁤ what’s at ⁣stake at ‍the level‌ that any well-briefed​ U.S. ⁢senator⁣ should know about what’s at⁤ stake ⁢if Putin wins.”

He also previously supported gun control legislation and ‌a bill redefining the​ traditional definition of marriage.

A⁤ few ‍other GOP establishment candidates endorsed by Trump in recent cycles include Utah Sen. Mitt Romney⁢ and Dr. Mehmet Oz, who ran for Pennsylvania’s Senate seat in ‍2022.

A Silver Lining

Trump’s endorsement philosophy seems to be based ‌on ​candidates who ‍say ⁤nice things about him, but this approach​ has often resulted in endorsing ‍squishy candidates. However, there have been instances where Trump’s endorsement has⁣ helped grassroots ⁤candidates ‍defeat establishment figures.

For example, in Texas, several GOP state House candidates backed by ​Trump defeated or ⁣forced into runoffs‌ incumbents who supported the failed ​impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

One of ⁢these candidates is Republican David Covey, who managed to force ⁤House ⁤Speaker Dade‍ Phelan into a runoff⁢ election. Phelan, who led the ‍impeachment against Paxton, has ⁣used⁢ his position ⁣as speaker to ‍ stymie ⁤various conservative legislative priorities,​ such as‌ election integrity.

While Trump’s endorsement doesn’t guarantee victory, it can significantly raise the profile and⁣ name recognition⁤ of grassroots⁢ candidates who often ⁢lack the resources and political capital ⁤of establishment-backed​ rivals. In politics,​ name recognition is ‍crucial for winning elections.

If Trump wants to further⁢ an “America First” agenda, he should carefully evaluate GOP candidates’ track records before giving out endorsements. Otherwise, he can​ expect these ‌same feckless Republicans to betray him and⁢ his ​voters at every opportunity.