The Platform of the Party of Trump

Even while failing to directly oppose Donald Trump by denying him the nomination outright, convention delegates deserve some praise for shaping the 2016 Republican platform into a statement of principle easy for conservatives to rally behind. If this document was somehow binding on Trump, and an exact roadmap of everything he would attempt to accomplish if elected President, most conservatives would rally behind him immediately upon its adoption.

Of course that is not the case, and it is precisely because Trump openly disagrees with portions of the platform, and cannot be trusted to adhere to the rest, that so many conservatives continue to oppose him.

But the platform is still valuable in articulating a consistent vision for the country that will serve as a roadmap for a conservative Congressional majority, as well as the 2020 nominee. As with the continued opposition to Trump among many delegates, this is thanks to the Cruz campaign’s success in getting principled constitutionalists selected for the national convention. If Trump had secured the nomination earlier, and installed more of his own people in state delegations, the platform could have looked dramatically different.

It could have endorsed Trump’s promise of neutrality in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Instead it contains some of the most pro-Israel language of any party platform in history.

It could have articulated Trump’s vacillating over abortion, or his praise of Planned Parenthood as doing “wonderful things.” Instead it includes an unapologetic condemnation of both the practice of abortion and those entities that provide unrestricted abortion services on demand.

And it could have fully embraced Trump’s more isolationist, “America First” stance on foreign relations, or his preference for a strong executive branch over a more limited, constitutional government. Instead, the 2016 platform continues the GOP’s historical support of active involvement and leadership in global affairs, and its loyalty to the concept of a federal separation of powers.

To be sure, elements of the platform bear the mark of Trump’s candidacy. The section on trade, for instance, fails to unapologetically stand in support of free trade as a vehicle for innovation and competition. Another section supports reinstating the Glass-Steagall Act, a proposal favored by Elizabeth Warren and other liberals which would increase banking regulations. And the immigration plank issues the familiar demand for a wall, although since the problem with Trump’s views on immigration is more the fact that he actually supports amnesty, the clause will hopefully reduce the chance of him flip-flopping on immigration-related issues later in the campaign.

Overall, however, the document is an outstanding conservative platform. Too bad it’ll be matched with such a terrible candidate.

The full text of the platform can be found here.