Trump as 'National Liberal'

Updated: 2025.10.07 15D ago 1 sources
Instead of 'national conservatism,' Trump’s tariff‑driven industrial policy, energy nationalism, and strong defense fit a historical 'National Liberal' tradition associated with Bismarck‑era Germany and early Republican presidents like Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. The frame separates combative Jacksonian rhetoric from a program of market‑backed national capacity and anti‑redistribution. — Reclassifying Trump’s program this way could reshape coalition analysis, policy expectations, and media narratives beyond culture‑war labels.

Sources

Political Psychology Links
Arnold Kling 2025.10.07 100% relevant
Michael Magoon’s argument that 'Donald Trump is best understood as a National Liberal,' positioning tariffs, industrial nationalism, and energy policy within that lineage.
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