Silver linings for anti-Trump conservatives

In October 2020, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who had declined to support Donald Trump in 2016, laid out his rationale for backing Trump’s reelection. Shapiro argued that although he hadn’t been wrong “about Donald Trump on character,” he believed “whatever damage [Trump] was going to do, he’s already done.”

Ironically, Shapiro’s words came just before Trump wrongly claimed victory in the 2020 election and fueled what would become the Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021.

But Shapiro’s reasoning resonates more powerfully in our current context. With Trump’s recent election win, there’s no need to justify a vote for him now. The die has been cast, and the potential fallout is largely beyond our control.

So the real question becomes: Can anything positive come out of this?

Call me an optimist, but I’d argue that the answer is a cautious “yes.”

A big caveat is in order before we dive in. Like the 2020 version of Shapiro, I’m a conservative most troubled by Trump’s character, not his policy goals (to the degree he has a coherent agenda). So for progressives, this analysis may be cold comfort.

So, what sparks this glimmer of hope? For starters, Trump’s early staffing decisions have been somewhat encouraging. Choosing Susie Wiles as chief of staff hints at both competence and a degree of stability, and his selection of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for secretary of State is promising for those hoping for a Reaganesque approach to foreign policy.

Trump appears poised to maintain his strong alliance with Israel, building on the success of the Abraham Accords, one of his most widely praised first-term achievements.

Some observers I’ve spoken with believe there’s even a chance that Trump might partner with Israel to cripple Iran’s nuclear ambitions, a bold move that could profoundly reshape Middle Eastern dynamics, made more likely by Hezbollah’s weakened condition and Iran’s air defenses being destroyed.

While such an action would be highly controversial, it could prevent the rise of a radical, nuclear-armed regime in the Middle East — something that would resonate deeply with pro-Israel conservatives who prioritize national security.

Of course, Iran is not the only problem confronting the U.S. While Trump’s commitment to Israel has rarely been in doubt, his past comments regarding Ukraine have raised concerns.

However, recent signals indicate that he wants to avoid anything reminiscent of Biden’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. There’s hope that a measured approach could emerge, countering isolationist sentiments and aligning more with mainstream conservative values than with Vice President-elect JD Vance’s infamous dismissal of Ukraine.

Whatever happens, the consequences transcend Russia and Ukraine. It stands to reason that China will also be watching closely.

Domestically, Trump’s economic focus could also serve him well. If he’s concerned with his legacy (we have to hope that he is), he’ll be incentivized to steer the economy responsibly, though his penchant for spending and tariffs could fuel inflationary pressures.

Much to the chagrin of some of his biggest supporters, there’s reason to hope Trump may govern more responsibly than his past rhetoric would suggest. A big test will be to see if or how he implements his promise to conduct mass deportations of illegal immigrants.

Here, Shapiro’s additional arguments from 2020 — that Trump’s policies exceeded expectations in the first term and that “the Democrats have lost their f---ing minds” — become more relevant.

One positive result of Trump’s 2024 election victory might be to serve as a much-needed wake-up call for Democrats, convincing them to move away from the extreme left. The hope is that they’ll step back from identity politics and fringe policies on taxpayer-funded gender-affirming care for inmates and migrants, and align more closely with the concerns of mainstream voters.

There’s no sugarcoating it: We’re in for chaotic days ahead. I’ve long believed that the potential downsides of Trump’s leadership outweigh the upsides.

But now that the election is over, we might as well look for any possible benefits and bright sides, if we’re destined to endure the challenges inherent in a second Trump presidency.

Matt K. Lewis is a columnist, podcaster and author of the books “Too Dumb to Fail” and “Filthy Rich Politicians.”