In 2016, Donald Trump didn’t just win because Hillary Clinton was universally despised. No, Trump managed to tap into a group of voters who had been ignored for years, working-class Americans who watched as their country was overrun by illegal immigration and bled dry by endless wars. “Build the Wall” wasn’t just a slogan—it was a lifeline for those who saw their nation’s future disintegrating, a rallying cry for those who had long since given up on the political elites who sold them out.
But the joke was on us. Before the ink had dried on the newspapers declaring his victory, Trump revealed himself to be more of a liberal populist than the traditionalist warrior he portrayed during his campaign. His chant of “lock her up” turned into “I like the Clintons” before he’d even set foot in the Oval Office. The hard-hitting immigration hawk his supporters envisioned? That was gone too. Once in office, Trump floated ideas like amnesty for “Dreamers” and comprehensive immigration reform—a euphemism for blanket asylum and mass legalization.
For those paying attention, this bait-and-switch was obvious early on. But a significant number of his supporters either didn’t notice or didn’t care. They were so hypnotized by Trump’s reality-show theatrics that they excused the very policies they once railed against when Democrats proposed them.
And now the betrayal is impossible to ignore. Trump, the supposed immigration warrior, has recently suggested we hand out green cards to any foreigner who obtains a college degree like they’re participation trophies. Forget about American values or national interest—why bother when you can just toss green cards around like confetti at a New Year’s Eve party?
And yet, here we are again in 2024, with Trump dusting off the old playbook, making more empty promises like “deport all illegals on day one.” Sound familiar? He knows exactly what buttons to press to get the base riled up. But as his record shows, these promises are nothing more than hollow bait, designed to snag votes from those still clinging to the fantasy that he’s actually going to deliver this time.
Let’s face it: the “Trump Train” derailed a long time ago, and it’s time we admit we got conned. We didn’t get a conservative warrior—we got a self-obsessed showman who sold us out while waving a flag.
This isn’t just about walking away from bruised egos—it’s about saving the conservative movement from the circus Trump turned it into. The MAGA hats may have been tossed in the trash, but our resolve to defend America has only grown stronger.
And with proven leaders like Ron DeSantis, who deliver actual results without the theatrics, we finally see real leadership isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s within our grasp.