Top 5 Possible Post-Trump Directions for the GOP

3. Libertarian Pivot

This year was supposed to be the coming to fruition of a great “libertarian moment.” However, as it turned out, most of the people who supported Ron Paul in 2008 and 2012 weren’t libertarian at all, but rather “anti-establishment.” This resulted in a strange set of circumstances wherein many self-proclaimed “libertarians” supported the massively authoritarian Trump. Nonetheless, the many libertarian and libertarian-leaning members of the GOP could capitalize on the vacuum created by the destruction of Trump.

For as much harm as Trump has caused toward the advancement of liberty within the GOP, he has also perhaps planted the seeds for the future blooming of some libertarian ideas. For example, he has often criticized nation-building (particularly in Iraq) and the misconduct of the Federal Reserve in manipulating currency. Moreover, he has been quietly the most pro-gay Republican nominee in American history, allowing the GOP to distance itself from its very homophobic past. This scenario would (unfortunately) result in basically the end of the Libertarian Party, as it will have exhausted its usefulness. However, those like William Weld and Gary Johnson could find themselves again with influence in the GOP. The closest historical example is when Barry Goldwater and conservatives briefly overtook the party in 1964 before Ronald Reagan overtook the party for the long-term in 1980.