Anti-Trumpites for Trump (Adapted from Ayn Rand's 1972 Political ID of Herself as an "Anti-Nixonite for Nixon")

By Leonard Peikoff

People not affected by TDS agree: Trump's Presidency achieved notable successes. A few examples: low inflation, record employment, and America's enemies were contained as Trump's reputation for defending America made them uncertain of what he would do.

At a White House Conference on American history, President Donald Trump told an audience of teachers:

"Our mission is to defend the legacy of America's founding, the virtue of American heroes, and the nobility of the American character. We must clear away the twisted web of lies in our schools and classrooms, and teach our children the magnificent truth about our country. We want our sons and daughters to know that they are citizens of the most exceptional nation in the history of the world." (September, 2020)

In today's world, how exceptional this exceptionalism is!

More specifically, here is Trump's analysis of Americanism:

1. He is pro-capitalism, at least as he understands it, and in most respects, he embodies the better elements of standard Republicans, such as limited government, income tax cuts on individuals and businesses, a policy of deregulation, etc.

2. Trump's energy policy can be summed up by his loud, Trumpian, pro-industry cry, "Drill, baby, drill!"

3. He would reintroduce justice to our penal system and, most likely, move to neutralize "Soros prosecutors."

4. He advocates no "reforms" that would destroy America's constitutional system or the nature of the Supreme Court. 

5. As Biden works to protect Iran's oil income and its nuclear weapons program, Trump has promised Iran that he would "Blow your country to smithereens!” should they threaten Americans.

"America First!" is the political version of egoism's "me first." Trump has even implicitly challenged the foreign policy of American self-sacrifice, e.g., insisting that allies pay for their own defense.

Trump will negotiate with potential enemies, but not forever. No pacifist endlessly turning the other cheek, he will use military force when Americans are threatened.

This is the world's only hope for peace.

6. Today, Wokeism teaches that "merit" is a racist concept, "objectivity" is oppression and "logic" and "mathematics" are examples of "white supremacy." The Woke universe resembles a dystopia -- a world in which the individual's mind is helpless -- and words like "boy" and "girl," and "male" and "female," become unintelligible, and the use of pronouns a political debate.

Trump opposes all things "Woke." He opposes the Left's rewriting of American history, DEI hiring practices, biological men playing in women's sports, the instruction of elementary school children in masturbation and unconventional sexual positions, and the push to permit transgender surgery on children.

7. Unlike most of the spineless Republicans of the past, Trump will not shrink from a battle. In the words of columnist Dan McLaughlin, "Trump brand is a guy you might not like or admire, but you know he won't hold back and he's never afraid to go there." Trump is a fighter -- and he can act as a man of principle even if he often cannot state the principle philosophically.

8. Trump's convictions do not rest on being a religionist type of Republican. This is most striking in his opposition to a national abortion ban which many Republicans are trying to push through Congress. He supports IVF.

Now, here are some Trumpian negatives.

Trump is not an intellectual. He is often an emotionalist in voicing his viewpoint. If he feels an emotion strongly, especially in defense of what he regards as justice, he can say outrageous things that have no bearing on his policies. For example, when he was convinced that he was cheated in the election of 2020, his statement about the Constitution amounted to the assertion, "the courts be damned!" But, in the end, he left office peacefully.

Unlike Harris' assaults on the Constitution, Trump's assertions were a matter of outrage -- he believed that the election had been stolen -- and he saw himself as fighting for America.

In contrast, of course, Harris would alter the nature of Supreme Court itself, end the Electoral College, destroy the filibuster, and anything else that might limit the government's power. The threats from Harris to the founding documents are philosophical in nature, not just verbiage, but permanent and fundamental changes, with all of the practical consequences this implies.

When, in anger at the bias of ABC News, Trump states that the FCC license of that network be pulled, it is sheer emotionalism. Harris and her running mate have advocated the permanent censorship of all media for what they term "misinformation" and "hate speech."

Another objection to Trump raised by defenders of capitalism is his championing of tariffs.

America's trade with China (and certain other countries) is a matter of national security, and tariffs are at least one means of combating them. If Trump's proposed tariffs are the highest against China, it is because Trump seeks to undermine their ability to build up their industry and military. It is Americans who pay for Trump's tariffs, but they pay for the rest of the country's national security, as well, and it remains true that, in the case of China, they are totally justified.

Trump, however, uses tariffs for other purposes. In these cases, he is totally unjustified.

Following Biden's lead, Harris has no principled objection to tariffs, but her own plan is to impose whopping increases in individual and corporate income taxes, including an unprecedented tax on unrealized capital gains, a "wealth tax." The "transformation" of the economy that she promises will include new price controls and vast new subsidy programs for housing, medicine, childcare, et al.

She stands for the radical leftist "Squad" in Congress -- what might be called the "Hamas wing" of the Democratic Party -- which shows that she would be an enemy of Israel and of civilization.

Harris claims that her program is "unburdened by what has been." Yes, she is "unburdened" by the development of the Enlightenment, science, individual rights, and America's founding ideas. Harris is the most anti-American Progressive that has ever gained the nomination of a major political party in American history.

America has changed for the worse since Ayn Rand's time. Between them, the RINOs and the Woke are ruining the country. 

We are not RINOs. We are ROARs--Real Objectivists for Ayn Rand.

Some Objectivists claim that if Trump loses that will "cleanse" the GOP. I would ask them the following:

1. Who is this Republican who could magically transform the GOP?

2. After four or eight years of Harris, what would be left of the American system, individual rights, freedom of speech, honest elections, et al.?

After the Democrats are through with America, America will be through. We will end like ancient Rome. The post-American era will be Dark Ages 2.0.

(The author wishes to thank Jim Valliant for his invaluable assistance.)