As he departs the White House for the last time, President Donald Trump still has his eye on a future run for office, according to the Wall Street Journal, which notes that Trump has discussed forming a “Patriot Party” that would compete for voters directly with the Republican Party:
“Mr. Trump discussed the matter with several aides and other people close to him last week, the people said. The president said he would want to call the new party the ‘Patriot Party,’ the people said. Mr. Trump has feuded in recent days with several Republican leaders including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), who on Tuesday said Mr. Trump deserved blame for provoking the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Polls show Mr. Trump retains strong support among rank-and-file GOP voters.
“It’s unclear how serious Mr. Trump is about starting a new party, which would require a significant investment of time and resources. The president has a large base of supporters, some of whom were not deeply involved in Republican politics prior to Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign.”
Such a party would indeed be a threat to the GOP, as it would peel off conservative-leaning voters who currently make up the Republican base. A new party that could attract even a few percentage points of voters would all but guarantee that the GOP would become a permanent minority party for decades or even wind up going the way of the Whigs.
Ironically, there has already been a Patriot Party. It was formed in the 1960s and was affiliated with the Black Panthers. It was organized around a platform of socialism and embracing the politically disaffected in regions such as the rural South and Pacific Northwest. The fact that Trump was completely ignorant of the original Patriot Party set off howls of laughter on social media:
There was a “Patriot Party” organized in the late 1960’s. It was an American Socialist Organization for
impoverished whites in rural areas. Eventually it became tied to both the Rainbow Coalition and the Black Panthers. Trump, still a bozo 🤡!— Jo Kovacik (@jojok57) January 20, 2021
Ha! One previous “Patriot Party” (1960s-’80s) was a socialist, multi-racial coalition of community organizers and anti-fascists associated with the Rainbow Coaltion founded by Fred Hampton of the Black Panthers! https://t.co/RpyoeHXQh7
— Fred Dews (@publichistory) January 20, 2021
The irony of Trump wanting to start the “Patriot Party” is massive.
Patriot Party was a rural white SOCIALIST organization closely tied to Jesse Jackson & black panthers. It was formed after the 1969 “United Front Against Fascism” conference.
Patriot Party was socialist antifa
— Khalid Nigh (@Eternal0Star) January 20, 2021
They must not know that google exists because a Patriot Party already occurred in the US 1960-1980. Voted liberal, partially founded by the Black Panthers, and would be the enemy of this current take on the party. Fucking morons
— KPF (@drinksforfree) January 20, 2021
Why doesn’t Donald just call it the Party of Trump and be done with it? He’s already created a cult of personality that rivals that of Mao or Stalin. The next logical step would be to declare himself a deity and demand fealty from all Americans dumb enough to believe he’s their savior.
Featured Image Via NBC News
