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Donald Trump's presidency is at a crossroads, and the year is not yet half over. On every front, tariffs, foreign policy, immigration, and the budget, Trump is either uncertain at worst or confusing at best. The "great big beautiful bill" is being degraded by Elon Musk for being a "disgusting abomination" that threatens to expand the deficit.
One of the problems was the chaotic manner in which the bill was rolled out. In the first months, DOGE's efforts seem dependent on convincing any opponent that it was hopeless to resist the White House. For example, the House of Representatives passed the bill without adequate study. The Speaker, Mike Johnson, disingenuous as usual, with a wink and a nod, rammed the legislation forward without examining the details. Marjorie Taylor Green of Georgia admitted that she did not read the bill, as did Mike Flood of Nebraska.
None of this should have surprised anyone; you cannot pursue big, beautiful things without debate. Musk, although he is appalled at the legislation, played an essential role in creating the mess. Trump's "shock and awe" tactic did not factor in the bugbear of local priorities. In Morgantown, NIOSH, which deals with black lung, had its budget cut courtesy of Musk, then saw its powers restored by the courts and local pressure.
So what else is new? One faction of MAGA was not surprised, which was represented by Steve Bannon, who warned against the bill at the very beginning. His chief complaint was that the DOGE leader was pushing tax cuts, which came at the expense of Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. All of these programs also received support from Trump. Bannon correctly believed that the GOP had a new constituency that thought differently about government.
However, it seems pretty late to try to figure out what the Republican party stands for, given that the GOP seems to stand for everything and nothing. Trump tries to push Republicans in a new direction, at least in "concept," while arguing with lean government ideas as Russell Vought and Company articulated in Project 2025. However, the GOP is far from constructing a party with a bloc that pursues policies that are pro-working class. Billionaires and employees rarely see eye to eye, and Trump must figure out whose side he is on.
But the Republican Party is still trying to use Trump while not actually embracing Bannon's style of MAGAISM. Even the tone of the policy is dated, trying to appeal to the workforce of a long-ago age. Same with foreign policy, where Republicans still believe it is the Cold War championing militancy at every turn. Trump is of a different mind, seeking peace agreements while Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, tries to undermine him at every turn. Bannon was so incensed at Graham that he advocated pulling Graham's passport so he could stop agitating for more support for Ukraine.
Which leads to speculation whether MAGA is really an American first movement or a political hustle whose prime motivation is to "own the libs" without a viable alternative. Republicans are going to have to explain to Trump voters what they believe, if they believe anything at all.