Contrary to the claims of Trump partisans, these types of challenges to the president, be they substantive ones from sitting legislators, political ones from potential primary opponents, or rhetorical ones from the conservative media can only strengthen the party and, in the end, benefit an erratic president.
Shouting down any constructive criticisms of the president and trying to rig the game to protect him doesn’t make any sense unless you’re a Trump dead-ender who’s just there to defend him no matter how ugly things get. But at that point, forget being an ideologue—you’re not even a partisan. You’re just a red-pilled and hatted member of the Trump personality cult.
Because take a look at Trump’s popular trajectory (measured by polls and elections) and ask yourself this: Does this look like a movement marching from triumph to triumph? Trump needs an alternative path to winning back voters who have abandoned him. And potential pathways are what intra-party criticisms aim to create.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member