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One of the biggest questions for Republicans since Trump first won the GOP presidential nomination in 2016 has been: What will happen to the GOP after President Trump leaves public life? With Trump leaving office in 2029, that question will have to be answered soon.
Some have suggested that the old, more establishment form of conservative politics could have a resurgence. But given how popular MAGA politics has become inside the GOP, that might not be possible.
Newsmax contributor Jeffrey Lord predicts that what is most likely to happen is someone else carrying the torch of Trump’s “just do what works” politics onward. “That kind of thing could kind of become the dominant theology, if you will, of Republican politics,” he said. “Historically, that’s the way things have worked.”
He specifically pointed to J.D. Vance and/or Marco Rubio as candidates to carry on Trump’s legacy, saying: “If J.D. Vance, who is sort of the logical heir because he’s vice president, can carry through with that and pairs himself with Marco Rubio, I think they would be a pretty hard ticket to beat.”
Does that mean Trump will always be the leading figurehead in the GOP? Not necessarily. Lord pointed out that historically speaking, a former president’s influence slowly fades away and is replaced by future leaders. He mentioned specifically Lincoln and Reagan, and even the Bush family, but he added that it could be decades before we actually see that happen.