Case study President Trump
President Trump was officially a Republican president, but many aspects of his views and policies put him at odds with the Republican Party - and give him common ground with Democrats. President Trump has no direct political experience, entering the presidential race directly from business and media. He used the Republican primaries to launch a hostile takeover of the party: voters selected a candidate whom most senior Republicans strongly opposed, especially in private. Reince Priebus (then head of the RNC) refused to campaign with him, Paul Ryan initially refused to endorse him, and Senator McCain and Mitt Romney openly attacked the Trump candidacy.
Trump's policies are met with both horror and delight by those on the Republican right. His populist attacks on racial minorities and abortion rights please the social conservatives, and his desire to cut financial regulations and reduce corporation tax is welcomed by fiscal conservatives. However, many of his policies are what would be expected from more radical, progressive Democrats, such as opposition to international trade deals like the TPP. In particular, Trump's trillion-dollar infrastructure plan could be seen as the opposite of fiscal conservative traditions.
Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan tried to pull the American Health Care Act (to reform the Affordable Care Act) in March 2017. Trump, despite concerted efforts, was unable to persuade any Democrats or enough Republicans to support the bill. Donald Trump's presidency is likely to have a major impact on both Republican and Democrat factions as congressional politicians work out how to work with him. Importantly, in Congress there is no Trump faction that backs all his policies and will fight for their passage in the legislature. Trump does have loyal 'Trumpistas, many of whom are ex-members of Congress or people who have left the Capitol to join his cabinet - such as Jeff Sessions, Trump's pick for Attorney General. Kevin McCarthy, Majority leader of the House is seen as a key Trump ally in Congress with the two having regular meetings both before and after the presidential election.