On Nov. 19, President Donald J. Trump acquiesced to House Republicans and signed the release of the infamous Epstein files. Trump, or “Teflon Don,” has quite the knack for getting controversies to slide off him, but Epstein remains the one name that he cannot seem to evade. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the specter of Jeffrey Epstein has made Trump a bit of a Dr. Frankenstein figure: the MAGA-made creature has mutinied against him in the Epstein controversy, and may continue to do so on more issues.
What is important is that this episode is just the latest in a saga of a series of conservative rebellions against Trump’s supposedly iron grip over his MAGA base. The most recent installation has been the public rift between Trump and his once-staunch supporter, Marjorie Taylor Greene. Citing the Epstein files and a lack of focus on the domestic affordability crisis, she has harshly criticized her former sponsor. Trump, never one to be magnanimous, hit back by withdrawing his endorsement of her and dubbing her “Marjorie Traitor Greene.” What Trump doesn’t seem to understand is that Greene actually has a better finger on the pulse of the Republican base and is staying principled on MAGA values, whereas Trump is floundering.
There’s no doubt that politics is a fickle game with hypocrisy and betrayals abound. Thus, it is even more important that Trump has also lost the support of much of the conservative and libertarian intellectual movement. He has split from the Federalist Society and prominent conservative legal scholars recently filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court urging it to strike down Trump’s tariffs in the ongoing case of Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump. The Supreme Court, widely perceived as conservative and recently ruling frequently in Trump’s favor, seems very skeptical of Trump’s authority to impose tariffs on a whim.
These are just the most recent cracks showing in the formerly rock-solid MAGA base. Yet, this isn’t the GOP’s first rodeo as it is no stranger to identity crises. It has morphed from the party of Lincoln, to Nelson Rockefeller’s liberal “Eastern Establishment,” to Reagan’s Moral Majority, and now to Trump’s MAGA movement. There is, however, one oft-forgotten chapter of the party’s history that is quite paradigmatic of the current state of the Republican party: the Mugwumps of 1884.
The mugwumps, as you may remember if you took AP US History, were a splinter faction from the Republican party that supported the Democratic nominee for President, Grover Cleveland, instead of their own party’s nominee, James G. Blaine, because they considered him too corrupt. These expats, sticking by their values and convictions despite great political pressure, chose principles over toeing the party line.
So, where have the contemporary mugwumps gone? The most visible ones still in office are Representative Thomas Massie, who co-led the Epstein files discharge petition, and Senator Rand Paul, a libertarian Republican and staunch fiscal conservative who has consistently voted against Trump’s rampant spending agenda. Prominent legal scholars such as Richard Epstein and those in the Federalist Society have also been at odds with him. The modern face of Republican opposition to Trump has found a home in the libertarian right.
The current schism between Trumpism and MAGA values, whether it is mended or not, is a sign that the Republican party is once again changing. As I wrote in my last column, preserving individual liberties is paramount to the success of any democracy and is always on the ballot. Is the future of the Republican party the hardline libertarian of the likes of Massie and Rand? It’s too early to say, but if the past is any indication of the future, probably not. In fact, Senator Paul even betrays his self-proclaimed libertarianism on some issues, such as abortion.
However, we should hope that the party founded on the principles of classical liberalism, Congressional dominance, and wariness of an executive tyrant focuses on protecting liberties and civil rights for all Americans and escapes the increasingly claustrophobic rhetoric of second-term Trumpian politics. The sands are shifting in the GOP and whenever there is weakness at the top, it is always worthwhile to observe not only the opposition from without, who in this case are faring quite well, but also the opposition from within.
On a more personal note, regardless of your political commitments now, it is always important to remember that values supersede labels and parties. Being human means having changing beliefs on topics, controversial or not. Unfortunately, it has become all too normalized to not change beliefs, but rather underlying principles. To abandon fundamental principles and change positions without any forethought is not a sign of savviness or slick politicking, but rather of discomposure and even perfidiousness.
Rayen Zhou ’29 is an Opinion Columnist and a student in the School of Industrial & Labor Relations. His fortnightly column Rhyme or Reason seeks to provide an eclectic view on politics and campus life informed by history, philosophy, culture and a healthy dose of inquisitive skepticism. He can be reached at rzhou@cornellsun.com.
