United States: what future for the Republican party?

Audio 02:35

President Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, January 12, 2021, in Washington.

The president was returning from Texas.

AP - Gerald Herbert

By: Stefanie Schüler Follow

6 min

After the violent assault by supporters of Donald Trump on the Washington Capitol and the start of an impeachment process against the outgoing president, two visions clash among the American conservatives.

Some would like to return to the traditional values ​​of the conservatives, others to continue the path traced by Donald Trump.

Meeting in Philadelphia with two young representatives of these two currents between which a merciless battle is announced. 

Publicity

“This is the culmination of a true Shakespearean tragedy.

 "When Albert Eisenberg sees the images of Trumpists storming Congress, this young political consultant knows his party is coming to a crossroads:" 

For many people, including those who support Donald Trump, it was a long time of awareness.

Most people were shocked at what happened.

This dramatically reduced Donald Trump's influence and now allows the Republican Party to move forward without him.

On the other hand, we cannot move forward without our voters.

 "

Only here it is: among these voters, the identification with their hero is such that they do not see themselves advancing without him.

“A 

lot of people who voted for the president are very angry.

They feel muzzled and feel that their voices were not heard

 "

explains Billy Lanzilotti.

Last year he was one of the organizers of Trump's campaign in Philadelphia.

And he warns Republican elected officials who are turning away from the president: “ 

Liz Cheney, Mitch McConnel and Mitt Romney are part of our past.

It's the establishment trying to get rid of Trump.

And that's a problem.

Because 75

million American voters support the president.

We love our president

!

And if you disrespect him, you disrespect us

!

And we are an important electoral base for the 2022 polls and even for the next presidential election.

 "

See also: United States: in the last days of a stormy presidency, Trump is firing on all cylinders

"

The challenge for the party will be to include Trump's voters, but leaving the narcissism, the chaos behind us,

 " said Albert Eisenberg.

“ 

We need to position ourselves as anti-elitists and become the workers' party.

Not just white workers, but also blacks, Latinos and Asians.

 "

For Billy Lanzilotti, the Republicans should maintain the path taken by Donald Trump who knew how to broaden the traditional conservative electorate: “ 

Donald Trump will remain influential.

He will weigh on the Congress elections or on the next primary by supporting the candidates of his choice.

This movement will continue beyond his death.

People like his son or other conservative leaders have already adopted his style.

 "

Donald Trump's style is knowing how to take advantage of the anger of a section of Americans and maintain it.

To approach this electorate, " 

we have to try to understand why people are so angry, frustrated, excluded from society?

 », Insists Albert Eisenberg.

“ 

It's not just a problem for us Republicans, but for the whole country and even the whole world.

Because we see everywhere the emergence of populists who are disrupting our conception of the contemporary world.

 "

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