The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Column: Republican Party vs. Trump vs. America

President-Elect+Donald+J.+Trump+and+Vice+President-Elect+Mike+Pence+shake+hands+during+an+event+in+Des+Moines+on+Thursday%2C+Dec.+8%2C+2016.+%28The+Daily+Iowan%2FJoseph+Cress%29
The Daily Iowan; Photos by Josep
President-Elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President-Elect Mike Pence shake hands during an event in Des Moines on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016. (The Daily Iowan/Joseph Cress)

Members of the Republican Party reject President Trump, resulting in a failed democracy and almost a new party.

By Constance Judd
[email protected]

President Trump was recently called out by two members of his own party for degrading American values. However, this challenge did little to scare Trump and instead only raised his ego.

Following Sens. Bob Corker’s and Jeff Flake’s denunciation of his character and presidency, Trump responded as if it was nothing more than a simple inconvenience for him. These incidents call into question where the GOP stands if its own members are beginning to turn on one another.

It draws attention to the definite split among members of the Republican Party: You’re either with Trump, or you’re against him.

On CNN’s “New Day,” Corker said, “I’m sorry, I think when the president is wrong, you have to call him out, and sometimes he’s wrong. And that’s what I tried to point out in the speech yesterday.”

Corker was drawing attention to the reality that those who oppose Trump are simply not welcomed in the newly formed Republican Party.

Alongside Flake’s announcement of retirement, he said there is no place for him in the newly formed Trump party; he believes his values of free trade, pro-immigration, limited government, and conservativism did not match that of the administration’s. Flake said we as a country must never accept the “sundering of [the] country, the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms, and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons.”

Clearly, the Trump administration is not sitting well with not only the American people but members of the GOP. Is it time for us to finally ask, when is enough going to be enough?

In March, a CNN poll found that 63 percent of Republicans said they were “angry” at both the Democratic and Republican parties. However, when the same poll was given in September, one in four Republicans had added the GOP specifically to their “angry” list. Additionally, a quarter of Republicans have an unfavorable view of the GOP, while a majority disapprove of GOP leaders in Congress. Finally, many believe that Trump is not moving the nation in the right direction.

Obviously, the Trump administration is not presidential.

Taking everything into account, Americans are left to wonder when exactly our democratic system failed to the point where almost a new party is being formed — one that specifically opposes the current president.

In light of the newly formed Republican Party, you’re either with Trump or against him. Therefore, you’re either with the American people or against them.

Simply, when will enough be enough?

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