How an anti-Trump Republican could beat Trump

A candidate who flips the establishment playbook on its head just might defeat Trump at his own game

President Trump.
(Image credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Will President Trump face a primary challenger in 2020? Right now, as the GOP seems on the verge of passing a $1.5 trillion tax cut, most of it going to corporations and individuals, the party establishment seems to have won the victory over itself. But deep down, the party still hates and despises Trump, and would like to see him fall. So if the midterms don't go well, or if Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election meddling uncovers anything truly damaging, there will almost certainly be a challenge.

The candidates are already auditioning. In all likelihood, Trump would crush whoever might go up against him. He's the incumbent president of his party, he has 80 percent approval ratings among Republicans, and he has right-wing media behind him. In other words, Trump looks unbeatable — at least by an establishment opponent playing by the establishment playbook.

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Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry

Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry is a writer and fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. His writing has appeared at Forbes, The Atlantic, First Things, Commentary Magazine, The Daily Beast, The Federalist, Quartz, and other places. He lives in Paris with his beloved wife and daughter.