America First: a parliamentary party

[Editor’s note: this is part four in a series of posts re-imagining the United States as a parliamentary government. To see the introduction piece to get a better idea of what this is and why I’m writing it click here. Part one described the new Democratic Party, part two the Republican Party, and part three the Conservative Party. Everything included in this post is fictional, including quotes, motives, policies, logos, and strategies. However, I’ve done my best to imagine what could be based on the players involved and the circumstances provided.]

Where do we stand:

The fracturing of the Republican party didn't only take from it moderates and anti-Trump conservatives, it also opened the door for a more extreme distillation of Trump era Republicanism. The America First party or, as they would prefer to call it, movement is the Trump ethos unchained from the stodgy confines of the Grand Old Party. America First is driven more by populist inclinations than actual policy. To fight, or to appear as though you are fighting is the most important strategy for this far-right contingent. Built from the Trumpyist politicians in the most Trumpy districts, this party hopes to steal the mantle of right wing hegemony from the Republican party and win over the love and support of their patron saint: Donald Trump.

The Republican party, after all he'd done for them, failed when my father needed them most. They don't want us fighting for American values, they don't want to see us fight for America!

-Donald Trump Jr.

Seats in the House: 34

Seats in the Senate: 6

Policy

America First is a populist movement, which necessarily means that it's ideological positions are not as policy focused as they are value laden. This party takes its ques from what worked for the 2016 Trump campaign: immigration, a sense of white grievance, and American supremacy. The party is more focused on media attention and social media controversy than in making laws or building legislation. In a way, this party is the most direct outgrowth of the 21st century politicing: getting attention is, in many ways, more important to winning over voters in a polarized environment than actually doing the work of legislating or governance.

Trumpist

This party used the parliamentary breakup to separate themselves from the Republican brand, even as that party attempts to replicate Trump era success and devotion.
The party hopes for nothing more than an official endorsement from Donald Trump, yet, while he has signaled some support, he has not yet given his full hand to the fledgling group, preferring to instead hold sway over multiple parties.
Being brash, bold, and uncouth are all positive qualities. Politicians who can distance themselves from the label and pretend to represent the 'regular American.'

Nationalism

Anti-immigration broadly
This includes not only asylum seekers and illegal immigrants but traditional forms of immigration as well.
Want to lower the level of accepted immigrants into America to a level well bellow native population growth.
Elimination of family reunification immigration.
Halt the acceptance of asylum claims.
Prioritize immigration from European and other wealthy countries.
End birth right citizenship and make the children of immigrants remain second class residents.
Aggressive in defining patriotism and what it means to be an American.

Cultural

The party of cultural grievance, particularly in tune with the grievances of white, rural America.
Very much the party of evangelicals and extreme christian cultural practices.
Pro-life, anti-trans, Islamophobic.
Heavy emphasis on anti-Islamic rhetoric. Borrowing from their ideological sister parties in Western Europe, America First casts aspersion, apprehension, and mistrust on Muslims and the faith they practice.
"Free Speech" is used as a rallying cry whenever receiving criticisms for their positions. Nothing makes for better interparty cred than to have been "canceled" by the online "woke mobs."

Nominally small government

The party includes a funny mix of Tea Party holdovers and newly activated Trump loyalists. As a result, the party is formally for smaller government and use that position to argue against proposals they don't agree with.
At the same time, the sentiment doesn't seem to run very deep and the feeling is that this party would be more than willing to use the strong arm of the state were they to either take party in a governing coalition or run the government themselves.
Relatively unconcerned with the debt in comparison to the Republicans or especially the Conservatives.
More than willing to spend on border controls, law enforcement, or cultural watermarks (statues, re-namings, and other approved cultural expressions).

Environment

Want more fossil fuel extraction in the hopes of winning over major donors from the fuel industry.
Label climate change as "fake news" and brand those concerned about it as simply attempting to subvert American liberty.
Anti-green on principle.

Foreign policy

This party is firmly anti-interventionist. They want nothing more than for America to be left alone as the global hegemon while doing nothing to maintain that status.
Desire smaller military presence abroad, to the point of wanting less military spending, hoping to instead extend more money to law enforcement.
Disregards traditional allies and abandons the concept of a league of democratic states abroad.
Anti-trade organizations and desire to make all deals with other countries on bilateral negotiations.

The important players

The party is headlined by a number of prominent (read: talked about) Senators and Representatives, but obviously no person is more important to the party than Donald Trump. Anyone in the orbit of Trump is also considered important to the success of this party as it attempts to replicate the enthusiasm the 45th President was able to elicit. Donald Trump Jr., in a split with other prominent members of his family, firmly places himself in the America First party. Outside of DJTJ, the party brings 6 sitting senators in Tommy Tuberville (AL), Roger Marshall (KS), Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS), Marsha Blackburn (TN), Mike Lee (UT), and Josh Hawley (MO).

In the House the party is a who's who of far-right provocateurs and social media starlets. Mo Brooks (AL), Jim Jordan (OH), Paul Gosar (AZ), Louie Gohmert (TX), and Pete Sessions (TX) come to the party as senior House members from the now distant Tea Party era. They are joined by a younger era of Trumpian inspired members like Matt Gaetz (FL), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), Lauren Boebert (CO), Madison Cawthorn (NC) and Andy Biggs (AZ).

America First's power structure in the house will be led by Biggs with both Gaetz and Jordan in supporting roles. While Rep. Biggs isn't the most talked about member of the new party, he does come with leadership experience from his time in the Arizona senate. Meanwhile, Jordan seems more content with his role as fighter and loyal attack dog than actually organizing the new organization. Gaetz, embroiled in potential legal troubles, was on his way up in the right-wing universe but his ascent may be halted by potential sexual misconduct charges. Regardless, his supporting role in leadership is indicative of his possible future as the head of the new party. Few think Biggs can hold onto the role with so many other, louder members making up its ranks.

This party also sports a number of prominent members of the media with the OANN network pivoting their lineup to represent the fledgling party while Newsmax does their best to cater to both America Firsters and Republicans. Ex-Congressman Steve King gives his endorsement and announces he plans to run for his lost seat in Iowa as a member of the new party in 2022. The Party also causes trouble for Republicans in their state run organizations as many lower level operators defect to join the movement they see as more loyal to the Trump vision for America.

The Road ahead

The main challenge for the America First party will be to distance themselves from the also Trumpian Republican party. As the GOP will attempt to slander America First as being too extreme, or even cynical in their usage of Trump related language and themes, the party will need to retain trump voters in order to stay viable. By all indications, this party has the best chance of dethroning the Republican party as the presumptive party of the right.

But the path to greater power wont be easy. As the furthest right party in Congress, they will be constantly challenged for being too extreme or even dangerous to give more power. Furthermore, the Trumpian split means that any future collaboration between the Conservatives and America First is very unlikely. And cooperation with Republicans may fail to differentiated the party in the eyes of Pro-Trump voters.

Stepping into the 117th Congress, America First hold significant strength for a minor party. They hold just six fewer house seats and two fewer senate seats than the Conservatives. Adding to their strength is the ability of its members to catch the attention of supporters and detractors on traditional and social media. The party plans to take the fight to all the left-wing parties but also to take that fighting spirit onto the airwaves and challenge Republicans in their own home on Fox News. The future of the party depends on gaining enough Republican defectors or proving to voters that they are the real home of the Trumpian America in order to chip away at GOP strength. Furthermore, the party plans to run hard in districts held by Conservative party politicians, banking on the belief that those voters will feel betrayed by the anti-Trump vision their senator or representative has chosen.

This party also offers a danger for American democracy, they have no problem wrecking institutions in the pursuit of power and will be more than willing in undermining civic faith and driving deep divisions between Americans. This party will take its ques not only from the model established by Trump but also from the ways in which far-right populist parties have infiltrated European parliaments by sucking the air out of the immigration debate and constantly shifting public debate to subjects they excel in creating conflict in.

Coming Up

Shifting gears, next week we'll be looking at, perhaps, the most important party moving forward: the Centrists Party.

Made up of politicians longing for an age long since forgotten, the Centrists are the only party to have former Republicans and Democrats among its ranks. The Centrists will be pivotal in forming a government and their desires will serve as the frustration for many a progressive in the 117th Congress. But, can a party built on the ideas of compromise survive in a parliamentary environment? Will voters accept the idea of centrism and reward the party with more seats? Or, will the lack of distinct policy positions and seeming wishy-washy approach to governance hamper the party's ability to serve as the linchpin in American politics?