1981 Oldsmobile 98. The “Main Street” Republican party of 1981. Practical, shiny, powerful, white walls, chrome trim, leather interior, accessible, landau roof, 4 doors, large, American, fender skirts, superior, a known and consistent item.

The 2024 Trump organization has few remaining connections to the 1981 Reagan Republican Party, or that of Eisenhower in the 50’s, Nixon in the 70’s or the Bushes in the 90’s or 00’s. Let’s highlight some of the big differences.

1. Fiscal conservatism. Balanced budget. No debt. Trump used debt throughout his career, ran record deficits during his presidency and is now trying to eliminate the debt ceiling.
2. World-class agriculture exports. Trump accepts that US agriculture might take some hits from his “trade wars” approach. He uses various subsidies to partially offset the damages.
3. Industrial policy. Trump has an activist approach, promoting individual industries and firms that support him and penalizing those who oppose him. Republicans have historically concluded that the market alone is best positioned to invest for growth and the national government role should be minimal, preserving the institutional context.
4. Competition policy. The Republican party has supported a “hands off” approach. Trump prefers to intervene in the media, high technology, electronics, manufacturing, energy and banking industries. Manufacturing and extractive energy are preferred industries!
5. Rule of law. Republican investors and owners have relied upon a stable legal environment. Trump asserts that all laws and regulations are subject to his review and interpretation.
6. Imperial presidency. Republicans pushed to restrain presidential power during decades of liberal activism. Trump has permanently expanded the “rights” and powers of the presidency. Hayek’s “Road to Serfdom” was an early warning.
7. Fair play. Republicans traditionally sought to build citizen support for core institutions. Trump undermines the FBI, DOJ and IRS.
8. Free trade. Republicans supported free trade for 70 years as a way to benefit American multinational corporations and citizens. Trump takes a 1920 mercantilist approach to trade, believing that individual country trade deficits are harmful to the US. He believes that the “wins” from individual negotiations are greater than the net benefits of a free trade system for America’s strong world leading economy.
9. Military strength. Republicans have typically been hawks. Trump views defense spending as an optional investment which should be minimized as possible. He believes that a “strong enough” military and economy, combined with strong deal making and threats is “strong enough”.
10. Limit military strength. Republicans supported the WWII agreements that limited the military strength of Germany and Japan. Trump sees no reason to limit their military strength.
11. Alliances. Republicans have supported American alliances with Europe, Japan and other supporters of the “American Way”. Trump views these alliances as “welfare” for other countries. The U.S. is providing military, economic and institutional support without extracting tributes from the allies.
12. NATO. Republicans have always supported this counterweight to threats from Russia. Trump sees Russia as a “reasonable” adversary which is not interested in threatening the US. Europe should protect itself from Russia.
13. Global international order. Republicans have generally supported the various global organizations supporting the Western-defined economic and political systems following WWII. UN, associated organizations, WTO, IMF, World Bank. Trump views these organizations as an extra investment for the US and a threat to US interests. He prefers one-to-one negotiations rather than this universal approach to defining and enforcing US interests.
14. Institutions. Republicans have supported the main US institutions which have supported the American way. Trump questions all government departments, public education, universities, the mainstream media, journalists, and Hollywood.
15. Science. Republicans have historically supported American science and scientists, based on military, social and economic results. They have believed in professionals and objective reality. Trump believes that many scientific views are really political views, subject to political control. The contrast in medicine/public health is greatest.
16. Conservative philosophy. Starting with William F. Buckley, conservatives developed a consistent “conservative” world view that linked together social, political, military and economic dimensions. Trump has no conservative philosophy. He is purely transactional.
17. National Leaders. The Republican Party was based in the Northeast and Midwest. It dominated the country from 1860-1930 and again in the 1950-80’s. Traditional large metro areas provided intellectual and political leaders. Trump has abandoned the east and west coasts.
18. Conventional. Republicans embraced the preservation of history and convention. Trump is a revolutionary, seeking to overturn the “modern” FDR, LBJ “new deal” consensus on economic, social and political issues that he opposes. Judicial overturn of abortion rulings is “exhibit one”.
19. States rights. Republicans have supported “states’ rights” to preserve conservative social positions. Trump seeks to enforce national decisions.
20. Separation of Church and State. Republicans quietly accepted the need to preserve religious rights and allow the state to be “neutral”. Trump and religious conservatives question this solution. They worry that secular interests are indoctrinating students.
21. Anti-communist, anti-fascist, anti-totalitarian. Republicans generally embraced the “American Way” and opposed alternate views. Trump is purely transactional.
22. Western culture. Republicans believed that the post-war consensus of democracy, human rights, mixed market capitalism and international order was effective and right. Trump does not believe that the US should promote its ideals. All international relations are purely transactional.
23. Fixed monetary policy. Republicans have pushed for a “rules based” monetary policy to limit the risks of an “active” monetary policy. Trump wants to control the Federal Reserve Board to promote low interest rates.
24. Character. Republicans have highlighted “character” as an essential trait of any national leader. Trump dismisses “character” as irrelevant.
25. Russia. Republicans fought the cold war against Russia. Trump sees Russia and Putin as just another global competitor, no better or worse than many others.
26. Special relations. Republicans have supported historical US relations and agreements. Trumps sees everyone as transactional. NATO, Japan, Korea, Australia, Canada, Mexico, UK, France, Germany.

Summary

Republicans, like all political parties, have shuffled their coalition partners through time. The Reagan coalition was not the Eisenhower coalition, but the differences were minor. The Bushes generally embraced the broad “conservative” Reagan tent. Trump is clearly not a “philosophical” conservative. He is not trying to conserve a culture and its main institutions. He believes in a radical individualism closer to libertarianism and realpolitik. The world is dangerous. It is only win/lose. Only great deal makers can deliver results. The whole is the sum of the parts. “Trial and error” is an essential approach. There are very clear differences between the historical Republican Party and Trump’s views. I think they will become more apparent as Trump tries to implement his views.