Some quick thoughts on last night’s election victory.
Trump has changed the GOP. The GOP is now a populist party. And Trump is now arguably one of the most significant political figures of the last 50+ years.
I believe that it’s important to recognize that populism tends to be a very emotionally driven movement and can be highly volatile. This emotional energy often translates into an intense desire by supporters for immediate change, which, as we have seen in the past can quickly turn into frustration if results aren’t seen soon enough. For Donald Trump, his coalition was largely built around promises related to the economy and illegal immigration, two areas that stir up strong, visceral reactions among people inside and outside of his base.
The challenge for Trump, or any populist leader for that matter, is to maintain momentum by fulfilling those promises quickly and effectively. His administration has a very narrow window—likely less than six months as (my guess) —to make some visible progress. The pressure to deliver concrete results is going to be immense, particularly on issues like illegal immigration and economic prosperity, as any perceived failure could lead to a major loss of support.
In my opinion, the timeline for success, however, isn’t just about achieving policy goals but also managing public perception. Even small setbacks or delays in implementing immigration reforms or economic improvements could have outsized consequences. That’s the nature of populism: it’s often more about satisfying immediate desires than working through complex, long-term solutions.
If Trump can reset the paradigm in a way that delivers some tangible outcomes within that time frame, he might solidify his support and expand power. However, failure to do so could trigger significant backlash—especially among his more impatient or skeptical supporters.
That said, the game plan for the left will be to stymie or stop any and all efforts for Trump to deliver on his promises to the people. The left will try to play down the clock, so to speak, and hope to set in motion their comeback from this very huge loss.
To sum up… we’re are heading to a bumpy ride with uncertainty likely being the only certainty.
My thoughts for Republicans and other supporters of Trump… Be unified. Be vigilant. Be patient. Be prepared!
( Photo: Wall Street Journal )
Jim Sullivan 