FreedomWorks Closure Confirms GOP Shift to Trump's Populism
The closure of FreedomWorks, a key libertarian organization, marks a significant shift in the American political landscape, reflecting the growing influence of Donald Trump's populist approach within the GOP. This development follows the earlier withdrawal of Americans for Prosperity from efforts to oppose Trump in the GOP presidential primary, further underscoring the decline of big-tent libertarianism in favor of right-wing populism. Analysts and insiders attribute the demise of these libertarian institutions not only to Trump's dominance but also to a strategic withdrawal by donors, indicating a broader disinterest in libertarian principles in the current political climate. The fates of both organizations confirmed the victory of right-wing populism over big-tent libertarianism.
Sources
Jonah Goldberg
“FreedomWorks didn’t die from a lack of supply of coherent principles but from a lack of demand for them.” https://t.co/qkcjYhSjzs
David Boaz“If all those supposedly principled libertarians were actually principled libertarians, they would not have surrendered to Trumpism,” https://t.co/zftXHc0CFz
Eric Boehm"FreedomWorks didn’t die from a lack of supply of coherent principles but from a lack of demand for them." -- @JonahDispatch https://t.co/MIBuaxgiyC
Michael TomaskyGreat analysis from @AddieStan for @newrepublic How FreedomWorks Paved the Way for Trumpism—and for Its Own Demise. https://t.co/zRT1055d4t Follow @newrepublic
Elizabeth Nolan Brown The fates of FreedomWorks & Americans for Prosperity "confirmed ... the victory of right-wing populism over big-tent libertarianism." https://t.co/qWmPbeEQ17
The Gateway Pundit Libertarian FreedomWorks Group Closing, Leader, Politico Blames Trump, but Insiders say Donors Orchestrated Org Suicide via @gatewaypundit https://t.co/86HPEsT0yP
spiked Politicians don’t even pretend to have principles anymore, says Tom Slater https://t.co/WNPxXMbwvb
UnHerd The libertarian wing of the American Right once had strong institutional backing. Trump’s populist takeover has left those institutions obsolete, @laureldugg writes https://t.co/IDbGKqMrgZ
Matt Welch "The end of FreedomWorks comes a few months after Americans for Prosperity — the other libertarian group created by the 2004 split — abandoned its effort to beat Donald Trump in the GOP presidential primary.... [T]heir retreats confirmed one of the biggest Trump-led changes in…
- UnHerd
Trump transformed the GOP. Washington institutions are catching up. Read @laureldugg on FreedomWorks closing its doors https://t.co/IDbGKqMrgZ