{"id":3670,"date":"2026-05-27T16:40:53","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T16:40:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/27\/trumps-iron-grip-on-the-republican-party-has-never-been-stronger-what-about-the-country\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T16:40:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T16:40:53","slug":"trumps-iron-grip-on-the-republican-party-has-never-been-stronger-what-about-the-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=3670","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s iron grip on the Republican party has never been stronger. What about the country?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"436ecf36-25a3-48dd-a066-8cb8c9b17497\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"a man speaks outside\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/dd8998991b55e4c180d98adebd1725de3931b5a6\/0_0_4881_3378\/master\/4881.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"321.81315304240934\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Donald Trump speaks in front of the US flag to the press as he departs the White House on 12 May in Washington DC.<\/span> Photograph: Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"436ecf36-25a3-48dd-a066-8cb8c9b17497\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Donald Trump speaks in front of the US flag to the press as he departs the White House on 12 May in Washington DC.<\/span> Photograph: Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-13sure5\">\n<div class=\"dcr-47lvke\"><a href=\"\/tone\/analysis\" class=\"dcr-epjkf7\">Analysis<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Trump\u2019s iron grip on the Republican party has never been stronger. What about the country?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"dcr-isvq2p\">\n<div class=\"dcr-f3dx7u\"><a rel=\"author\" data-link-name=\"auto tag link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/profile\/callum-jones\">Callum Jones<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1b20i6h\">\n<p>The US president\u2019s backing of Maga extremists turns off the very voters Republicans need to win over in the midterms<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a> gave it a minute.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">At 9.01pm it was confirmed that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/26\/ken-paxton-texas-senate-runoff\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton<\/a> \u2013 a hardliner backed by the US president \u2013 had triumphed over the incumbent John Cornyn in the state\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/republicans\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Republican<\/a> primary runoff for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/us-senate\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">US Senate<\/a>. By 9.02pm, Trump had started celebrating on social media.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cI will do some nice, big, beautiful rallies for Ken,\u201d the president wrote this morning. \u201cTexas, this will be FUN!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/apr\/28\/texas-senate-talarico-leads-race-cornyn-paxton\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">James Talarico<\/a> also wasted no time. At 9.03pm, Paxton\u2019s Democratic rival for the seat reached out to Cornyn\u2019s supporters. \u201cYou have a place in our campaign,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"057932e9-d496-46f7-90a6-78e6f92db0f9\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-4 | 4\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-ak3j0c\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/23\/donald-trump-revenge-republicans-thomas-massie\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">Donald Trump\u2019s revenge tour against Republican dissenters is in full swing. Will it backfire?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Paxton\u2019s clear victory \u2013 the widest primary defeat of an incumbent US senator in almost five decades \u2013 highlights the extraordinary loyalty Trump continues to command over his base. But <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/democrats\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Democrats<\/a> are still optimistic that Paxton\u2019s extremism and scandal-riddled past will bring disenchanted Cornyn voters to their camp.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Paxton\u2019s confirmation has bolstered Democratic optimism that the party is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/26\/ken-paxton-texas-senate-runoff\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">in with a shot<\/a> of winning statewide office in Texas for the first time in more than three decades, with the help of old guard Republicans and Latino voters switching back from the GOP.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Those hopes were further validated by a fundraising boost last night. Having already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2026\/04\/15\/james-talarico-texas-senate-democrat-fundraising-27-million\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">raised $27m<\/a> \u2013 the largest-ever sum for a US Senate candidate in the first quarter of an election year \u2013 in the first three months of 2026, Talarico\u2019s campaign told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/playbook\/2026\/05\/27\/paxton-wins-talarico-spins-00937608\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Politico<\/a> it raised $600,000 in two hours after Paxton\u2019s win was confirmed on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Cook Political Report shifted its rating for the seat from \u201cLikely Republican\u201d to \u201cLean Republican\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThough polling shows the general election close or even tied, we don\u2019t give Talarico an even chance just yet\u201d, said Jessica Taylor, the Cook Political Report\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/us-senate\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">US Senate<\/a> and governors editor, \u201cthough the contest could eventually shift into the Toss Up category\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">While with most votes counted Paxton had won the Republican primary runoff by a margin of 64% to 36%, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/democrats\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Democrats<\/a> are confident the wider electorate will respond differently to the proposition of a hardline Maga candidate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Paxton is \u201ctoo extreme and he\u2019s too tied to Trump\u201d to appeal to independent voters, Beto O\u2019Rourke, the former Democratic congressman who in 2018 narrowly failed to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2018\/nov\/06\/beto-orourke-loses-ted-cruz-texas-shift-democrats-midterms\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">unseat Ted Cruz<\/a>, the Republican senator for Texas, told the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/27\/us\/politics\/paxton-talarico-texas-senate-race.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">New York Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Some establishment Republicans, too, fear the price of Trump\u2019s iron grip around the party may well be its control of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/us-congress\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">US Congress<\/a>, as his backing of more extreme candidates turns off the very voters they need to win over.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">After Trump\u2019s 11th-hour <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/19\/trump-endorses-republican-ken-paxton-senate\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">endorsement of Paxton<\/a> last week, party senators on Capitol Hill did little to hide their frustration. \u201cOh boy,\u201d John Hoeven of North Dakota <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/19\/us\/politics\/republican-senators-trump-paxton.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">told reporters<\/a>, adding that he supported Cornyn. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she was \u201csupremely disappointed\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cHe made his decision,\u201d said John Thune, the Republican Senate majority leader. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t change the way that I feel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">After a decade under Trump, the Republican party is now a machine primed around one man. The old guard, no matter how long they have been around, require his support. In Texas, and across the country, the question facing the voters is not whether the Republican party has transformed from what it used to be \u2013 but whether it has changed so much they will consider switching their vote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But there\u2019s also a lesson for both Democrats and moderate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/republicans\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Republicans<\/a> in November after Tuesday\u2019s results.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Almost 1.4 million Texans cast a vote in Tuesday\u2019s runoff, about 800,000 fewer votes than in the March primary. Paxton won about 886,000 votes this week, <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/projects\/elections-2026\/texas-primary-runoff-results-us-senate\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">according<\/a> to the Associated Press, a few thousand more than he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/mar\/03\/texas-republicans-senate-john-cornyn-ken-paxton\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">received in March, during the initial primary vote<\/a>. But Cornyn, who received about 910,000 votes in the spring, attracted just shy of 502,000 this time around.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Over the coming months, both the Paxton and Talarico campaigns will focus just as much \u2013 if not more \u2013 on who stayed at home. Which party can get voters to show up?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-midterm-elections-2026\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US midterm elections 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/texas\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Texas<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/ken-paxton\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Ken Paxton<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Donald Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/republicans\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Republicans<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/democrats\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Democrats<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/analysis\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">analysis<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump%E2%80%99s%20iron%20grip%20on%20the%20Republican%20party%20has%20never%20been%20stronger.%20What%20about%20the%20country?&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/27\/trump-republican-party-maga?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F27%2Ftrump-republican-party-maga&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/27\/trump-republican-party-maga\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Donald Trump speaks in front of the US flag to the press as he departs the White House<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3672,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3670"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3670\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}