5 ways the GOP is coping with Donald Trump

From total capitulation to restraint from within

The Mitt Romney method: restraint from within
(Image credit: REUTERS/Mike Segar)

Following the recent death of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, conservatives were in a spasm of moral clarity. It felt like an old band rehashing its greatest hits as they issued thundering condemnations of the communist island regime and Castro's many euphemism-laden obituaries in the American press, as well as the embarrassing whitewashing statements from world leaders like Canada's Justin Trudeau.

Then the reality of America's would-be autocrat and conspiracy-theorist-in-chief Donald Trump reasserted itself, in a series of bizarre tweets in which the president-elect alleged that he would have won the popular vote if not for widespread voter fraud, followed two days later by the suggestion that flag burners should be jailed and lose their citizenship.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Scott Galupo

Scott Galupo is a freelance writer living in Virginia. In addition to The Week, he blogs for U.S. News and reviews live music for The Washington Post. He was formerly a senior contributor to the American Conservative and staff writer for The Washington Times. He was also an aide to Rep. John Boehner. He lives with his wife and two children and writes about politics to support his guitar habit.