How Trump’s 'well-funded political apparatus' keeps Republicans saying 'Yes, sir'

10 March

Never Trump conservatives, from The Bulwark's Mona Charen (a former Nancy Reagan speechwriter) to former GOP strategists Rick Wilson and Stuart Stevens, continue to offer scathing criticism of Donald Trump's second presidency. But "former" is the operative word, as Trump's outspoken critics on the right tend to be people who served in Congress, state governments or the Republican National Committee (RNC) in the past; they are conservatives and libertarians of a bygone era.

In 2025, many Republicans in Congress or state governments are reluctant to openly criticize Trump. Even Trump's most controversial nominees were narrowly confirmed by the U.S. Senate's small GOP majority.

In article published on March 10, Axios' Alex Isenstadt explains why Trump's poll numbers won't necessarily turn Republicans against him — no matter how much they fall.

"Anyone who thinks President Trump's mesmerizing hold over the GOP will slip if his poll numbers slide is missing one of his biggest innovations in American politics: the creation of a cash-flush political operation that has raked in around a half-billion dollars — about the same amount the GOP's House and Senate campaign arms spent during the entirety of the last midterm campaign," Isenstadt reports. "Why it matters: It's unheard of for a president not running for reelection to raise that kind of money, but the cash is just one piece of a bigger power play that's arguably the most powerful, well-funded political apparatus ever."

According to Isenstadt, Trump built an "enforcement machine for his agenda" — and isn't shy about using it. Meanwhile, SpaceX/Tesla/X.com leader Elon Musk, Isenstadt notes, is using his wealth and resources to boost that Trump agenda.

GOP strategist Corry Bliss told Axios, "Right now, there's a huge price to pay by crossing Donald Trump. When you combine a 92 percent approval rating among Republican voters with unlimited money, that equals: 'Yes, sir.'"

Former National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRCC) Executive Director Jason Thielman described Trump's political operation as "a juggernaut that will be one of the most dominant forces in modern elections."

Read the full Axios article at this link.

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