President Donald Trump can be foolish and self-destructive at times, but he is also able to move the ball forward in ways Republicans were not for years. Sometimes, you just have to take the good with the bad.
That was most apparent on Tuesday, where two Trump endorsements showcased this dichotomy. First, the bad: In the Texas Senate GOP primary, Trump endorsed state Attorney General Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). Paxton is the worse candidate, the unlikable and politically toxic candidate with the stain of corruption on him. Republicans will still almost certainly win in Texas, but it will cost resources that could be better used in Senate races elsewhere.
MIKE JOHNSON CELEBRATES THOMAS MASSIE’S PRIMARY LOSS
The good? Trump-endorsed Ed Gallrein beat Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) in the GOP primary in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District. Massie was dead weight in the GOP caucus, unwilling to ever help Republicans move the ball forward on an issue, and rushing to embrace the antisemitic kooks of the internet down the stretch of his campaign. Massie is more obsessed with ranting about Israel than accomplishing anything for his district, for the GOP, or for the country. By running Massie out of office, Trump has given future GOP House majorities (as early as next year) more wiggle room and made the GOP a less hateful party in the process.
This is typically how it goes with Trump. He has enough political power and willpower to shape the party, meaning he is capable of accomplishing things other Republicans could or would not, but also that he is capable of shooting himself (and the party) in the foot. He does this on domestic policy as well. For example, Trump has sabotaged his own presidency (and the economy) with his economic illiteracy and obsession with foreign tariffs.
But, on the other hand, you have Trump’s handling of illegal immigration. After the Biden administration and its liberal media allies claimed that Congress passing a Democratic bill was the only possible way to prevent illegal border crossings, Trump came back into office and essentially ended illegal border crossings through enforcement alone. Along with that, he has mobilized enforcement to begin deporting criminal illegal immigrants. It was merely a question of willpower.
MASSIE CAMPAIGN SENDS MISLEADING TEXT IMPLYING TRUMP ENDORSEMENT
The same is true of foreign policy. Trump removed Venezuelan dictator (and ally of China, Russia, and Iran) Nicolas Maduro, a bold act that makes the world safer. Trump’s foreign policy record is littered with victories, thanks to his decision not to let problems like Venezuela fester for years for future presidents to deal with. But even on foreign policy, his strongest issue, Trump has his negatives, particularly his weak attitude toward China’s incursion into American technology and culture.
Trump has some low lows, and making it harder for the GOP to hold the Senate by unnecessarily turning Texas into a sideshow is one such example. But, with the bad, you get the good, and ending Massie’s sabotage of the GOP agenda (and driving his antisemitic bile out of the party) is a win that makes the lows easier to stomach.