We are living in Donald Trump’s America, and whether you stand with him or not, more than half of America’s voters supported him in the last election. As his second term of presidency continues, many former Trump supporters have shifted away from Trump and no longer identify with the MAGA agenda. While an anti-Trump movement is growing within the Republican Party, the most important members of the Grand Old Party (GOP), our nation’s congress members and elected officials, have stayed silent. Republican Congress members must stand up to Trump, otherwise it is a direct threat to our nation’s democracy, as it will only enable Trump to continue his dictatorial-esque regime and grow ever more powerful.
Trump has angered the hearts of many who put their trust and country into his hands. This sentiment is encapsulated by the “Republican Voters Against Trump” movement, which is a collection of testimonials from GOP voters who have found themselves at odds with Trump. According to the Republicans Against Trump website, a common theme among the testimonials is that his reaction to COVID-19, his felony convictions, the impeachment fiasco, and his (at best) questionable cabinet appointments, have been the key reasons for the shift against Trump (rvat.org). This organization is a beacon of hope within the Republican Party, and presents a potential path forward for a party corrupted by a single leader.
Some Republican members of Congress have shyly expressed their distaste with Trump, but they are quickly shut down in their dissent. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has been a warning to others who might want to express their opposition. Tillis voted against the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA). According to his official website, his state would lose billions of dollars that goes towards hospitals, medicaid, and rural communities (tillis.senate.gov). Following Tillis’ vote against the “Big Beautiful Bill,” President Trump bashed Tillis online and went as far as threatening to not support Tillis in his reelection campaign. Tillis has since revealed that he does not plan to run for the Senate seat again. Allowing Trump to bully Congress members out of House and Senate seats sets a dangerous precedent, and most impactfully destabilizes the nation’s democracy.
In today’s political climate, one can almost understand the hesitancy of GOP Congress members to speak out against the President’s agenda. If revealing a disagreement with Trump leads to them losing their jobs to a Trump sycophant, many Congress members will argue that speaking out will leave their state worse off. According to the Congress website, “In the nation’s capital, Members serve as advocates for the views and needs of their constituents as well as stewards of national interest” (congress.gov). When our elected members of Congress do not adequately use the power of their seats to represent their constituents to the fullest extent, the American people are obligated to vote them out of office. If this cycle does not occur, the fundamentals of our democracy break down.
As a voter or as a member of Congress, when you know that your party’s agenda will not benefit the people of America, it is important to use what power you have to promote the general welfare of everyone. Republican Voters Against Trump wrote, “It takes courage to speak out against your party. It takes courage to change your mind about Trump. It isn’t easy, but these voters understand that our democracy is worth saving” (rvat.org). It is crucial in times like these that the leaders of our nation who have the capability to make a difference, do so.