Trump’s partisan attacks serve antiparty rather than governing aims

Evidence

As president, Trump does not see the Republican Party—or any party—as the source of his power; hence his ephemeral alliances with Republican representatives and frequent attacks on both congressional Democrats and Republicans. He demeans leaders of both parties, including Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell: “Our leaders are stupid. Our politicians are stupid.” He campaigns against the reelection of sitting Republican senators, threatening their slim majority. He feints at making “deals” with congressional Democrats. He exploits the deep division within the Republican Party—applauding the radical conservative caucus and obstructing the leadership’s attempt at putting the factions of the party together in a way that would allow them, when they were the majority party in Congress, to govern. To the extent that Trump is interested in governing, he shows only sporadic interest in building an organization that can carry his policies and principles into the future. Seen this way, Trump is not, in fact, committed to governing at all. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 180

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Seemingly substantive policy domains conceal underlying partisan self-entrenchment battles. — Daryl Levinson and Benjamin I. Sachs, Political Entrenchment and Public Law, 536

Broader Connections

• Seemingly substantive policy domains conceal underlying partisan self-entrenchment battles. #expands (0.80) — Daryl Levinson and Benjamin I. Sachs, Political Entrenchment and Public Law, 536