Of all the people associated with Donald Trump and his two presidencies, the one person who always reminded me of a leader at a Nazi rally was and is Stephen Miller. With Miller’s appointment as chief of staff to replace Susie Wiles, Trump is now doubling down on what brought devastation to the GOP on Tuesday — arrogance and extremism.
Not the best choice for Republicans’ chances of taking the White House in 2029. Which brings up another point: Who will Trump endorse in 2028 to succeed him? JD Vance is out after blaming Trump’s Iran war for widespread GOP losses in Congress and in state races nationwide. That leaves Miller, Pete Hegseth, and Donald Jr., none of whom could ever win more than a handful of states, if any.
The overall problem with Trump II is that he and his administration seem to be fulfilling Barry Goldwater’s famous words: “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”
I voted for the man three times, and I still think that his basic policies, especially as elaborated under the Trump I administration, are just what the nation needs — if you throw out tariff stupidity and Iran mania.
Even The Wall Street Journal was quick to point out Miller’s extreme views:
“Miller has overseen some of the White House’s most controversial moves. In January, moments after federal officers fatally shot Alex Pretti, Customs and Border Protection officials texted Miller, who posted on X that the slain ICU nurse was a ‘domestic terrorist’ who had ‘tried to assassinate federal law enforcement.’ The description set off alarm bells inside the White House.”
Evidently not with Donald John Trump, however.
Peggy Noonan, famed Dubya speechwriter and now WSJ columnist (whom I usually detest reading), had the most telling prediction of all, one I fear will play out in time:
“At some point I suspect Mr. Trump is going to turn on his party. They didn’t deserve him, they let him down, he tried to help them but they wouldn’t let him. It’s going to be real bunker talk. It’s how he was probably always destined to wind up, swiveling around from the desk and telling the audience it’s fired.”
No, Mr. Trump, the electorate just tried to tell you that “you’re fired,” but you didn’t listen. Instead, you reverted to what has failed you the most — arrogance and extremism.
