Trump Declares War On Massie, Amash and House Freedom Caucus

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President Donald Trump is not one to be told “no.”

Since the beginning of Trump’s run for the Republican presidential nomination, he has been making a list of enemies to scapegoat for all of his failures. This list headed by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the entire Democrat Party appears to now include the principled conservatives of the House Freedom Caucus.

Following the President and Republican House leadership’s inability to pass their version of Obamacare repeal, Trump has started to turn on those within his own party who did not fall in line. Trump, per usual, took to ranting on Twitter to declare war on the HFC, which is headed by Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC) and includes libertarian favorites Reps. Justin Amash (R-MI) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) Trump said that the group will “hurt the entire Republican agenda” if they don’t fall in line.

The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don't get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2017

The irony of Trump’s tweet is that following the failure of Speaker Paul Ryan and the White House’s American Health Care Act, the President at first struck a unifying tone, at least from inside the GOP, when he said this about the HFC:

“I’m disappointed, but they’re friends of mine. It was a very hard time for them, and a very hard vote. But they’re very good people.”

The President and others in the nation seem to be slightly confused on the separation of powers on which the United States government it built, as well as the principles by which the Republican Party used to be bound.

Luckily, there does seem to be understanding of the President’s hypocrisy or division on Twitter. Many have called out the President for his “line in the sand” tweet which seems to want to strip the GOP of any principles they have left.

Trump is threatening to fracture the Republican Party if the Freedom Caucus doesn't compromise on its principles. pic.twitter.com/1l5S6fDe0f

— jordan (@JordanUhl) March 30, 2017

You aren't a candidate any more. You are the President of the United States of America. Start acting like it or step down.

— Dave Hogg (@stareagle) March 30, 2017

You're always such an angry little man; shouting at, trying to fight, or simply berating everyone in sight. Loose cannon.

— Mike P Williams ???? (@Mike_P_Williams) March 30, 2017

the #FreedomCaucus is the solution, not the enemy. U fight them, U fight the base on behalf of the establishment you fought

— Girard at Large (@GirardAtLarge) March 30, 2017

It seems like the President has one vision for the American people, and it is his vision. He assumed that politics work the same way business negotiations due, and that is simply a fundamental misunderstanding.

In politics, there are two types of representatives: those with principles guiding them; and those with ambition. The President ran against the establishment, not because he was guided by principles, but rather because he was against the ambition of the establishment, and for his own. The two ideas should not be conflated.

President Trump is a “my way or the highway” type of leader, and it appears that his list of enemies will continue to grow as he continually has fewer friends to work with in Washington. His poll numbers continue to reflect his divisiveness.