In many respects, MAGA has caused irreparable harm to the Republican Party. If you are a Republican who questions or opposes the MAGA movement, you are considered a RINO (Republican in name only). MAGA has little interest in building coalitions. Either you are with them, or you aren’t. In Wyoming and I suspect other states, there are ongoing battles for control of the Republican Party between MAGA and non-MAGA elements. This has been apparent in Wyoming both in the state legislature as well as the county party level. 

According to Gallop, polling suggests the number of Americans who consider themselves Republican has stayed constant since 2016 at roughly 28%. In 2024, Trump won the election with over 77 million votes, the most ever garnered by a Republican. Sixty-four percent of ellligible voters came out to vote, the second highest turnout since 1960. As common, the economy was the biggest issue among voters. 

Some of the loudest and most fervant Trump supporters claim the ongoing “culture war” to be a primary reason in their support for Trump. Typically, these are the Christian Nationalists predominantly in the “Bible Belt” who want the U.S. to become a Christian nation. These voters oppose all LGBTQ rights. According to Gallup, “transgender rights” was ranked 22nd in a list of 22 issues of importance by voters. Only 38% of voters felt it was extremely or very improtant. 

The biggest issue will continue to be related to the economy. The price of eggs and gasoline have come down. However, the campaign promises made by Trump for reductions in gasoline and groceries have not come true. While inflation has slowed, everyday Americans are still living paycheck to paycheck and are priced out of the housing market. Trump keeps delaying implementing threatened trade tariffs which has so far not caused catostrophic increases in the cost of goods. 

Trump has been hampered by repeated missteps, including the implementation of cuts to government funding and a controversial “Big Beautiful Bill” that will cause the nation’s deficit to increase. In addition, hte bombing of nuclear facilities in Iran and the administration’s refusal to release further information regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case has been unpopular with Trump supporters. Trump has threatened to annex Canada and Greenland and has had a very public separation from supporter Elon Musk who is now starting his own third party. 

Rasmussen, a right-leaning poll shows an approval rating of 48 percent, which is a sharp drop since mid-June. Many other polls currently have his approval ratings somewhere between 40-45%. Historically speaking, President Trump had the lowest approval rating after 100 days in office of any U.S. president since the 1950’s. 

Notable Organizations & Movements Formed in Opposition

• The Lincoln Project – Founded by GOP strategists to defeat Trump and MAGA Republicans.

• Republican Voters Against Trump – A campaign by Defending Democracy Together.

• Renew America Movement – Led by former GOP officials (merged into Forward Party).

• Country First – Founded by Adam Kinzinger to oppose extremism in the GOP.

• Forward Party – Founded by Andrew Yang, joined by Whitman and others.

Prominent Figures to Leave GOP since 2016