Trump is not a Conservative

   If limited government, free trade, and belief in the democratic process define a conservative, then Donald Trump is a conservative only in name. Though he’s been known as a far-right figure since his political debut in 2016, a closer look at his policies tells a different story.      
     Limited government has been a pillar of conservative belief since the birth of America. The debate over the size of the central government was one of the major points of contention that led to the establishment of the two original political parties during the birth of America. Alexander Hamilton believed in a strong central government, a national bank, and a powerful industrial sector. Thomas Jefferson, on the other hand, championed small government and strict constitutional interpretation. This divide contributed to the two party system, the republican party . Until Donald Trump. Though he calls himself a conservative, limiting the scope of the central government’s power is not high on Trump’s list of priorities. In fact, Trump has actually attempted to expand the powers of the government numerous times in the first two hundred days of his term. Trump has been repeatedly blocked by federal judges for overstepping the boundaries set by the constitution: in February, for example, Trump attempted to end birthright citizenship (protected by the 14th amendment), an act judges called “blatantly unconstitutional.” More recently, Trump issued an executive order to deploy the national guard in Washington, DC, to combat what he called a “crime emergency.” Despite DC’s crime being at a 30-year low, the national guard was deployed, costing an estimated $154 million. The move received mass public criticism, with analysts calling it a blatant power grab and stretch of presidential power.     
      Free trade is another important tenet of conservatism, and another tenet that Trump has spurned since taking office. His 10% baseline tariffs are a move that hasn't been seen since 1930 with the Smoot-Hawley act (which failed miserably). Trump threatened allies and enemies alike, using tariffs as blackmail to get what he wanted. He threatened the EU with 30% tariffs, brought down to 15% only when they purchased $750B in U.S. energy. We see a similar story in Japan, a country Trump threatened with 25% tariffs, only lowered once the nation invested $550B into the U.S.  While potentially beneficial for the US economy, this use of tariff and trade restrictions as a weapon is very un-conservative, even frowned upon by many hardline conservatives. Senator Ted Cruz, a staunch conservative, said on his podcast that Trump's tariffs will “hurt jobs and hurt America.” (Texas Tribune). In a similar statement, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul criticized Trump's use of emergency power to impose tariffs, calling it a “terrible mistake.” While Cruz and Paul both have supported Trump on most issues in the past, the beginnings of a rift have appeared with Trump's deviation from conservative norms. Trump’s stance on free trade comes as no surprise, as his ideological fluidity often dictates his desire for personal gain than moral conviction.      
   When Barry Goldwater, architect of the modern conservative movement, lost the presidential election in 1964, his concession speech included phrases such as “the election is over and the will of the people must be respected” and “let the laws be obeyed.” Donald Trump, on the other hand, in his 2020 post-election remarks delivered lines such as“we will never concede” and urged his supporters to “fight like hell” (National Archives). These comments, in addition to Trump urging supporters to “walk down to the capitol,” triggered the infamous Jan. 6 riot, which marked the first time in modern U.S. history that a mob attacked the Capitol itself to disrupt the peaceful transfer of presidential power. In the past, respect for democracy and the constitution has always been placed above all else, conservatives and liberals alike. However, conservatives particularly pride themselves on this issue, with some conservative writers such as Charles C.W. Cooke calling Trump’s recent statements “batsh*t nonsense” (Atlanta Black Star). Trump’s stark departure from conservative norms has alienated prominent conservative voices, prompting many of Trump’s supporters to reconsider their positions.     
​      You might be wondering: If Trump isn't a traditional conservative, how did he manage to win the election? Unlike the usual two-party dynamic, there are now three sides competing for a presidency. This past election, Kamala Harris represented the liberal side, Mike Pence represented the conservative side, and Donald Trump represented the newborn MAGA group. Ultimately, the distinction boils down to allegiance: MAGA follows Trump, Conservatives follow their beliefs.