Trump Alliance Defeats Wokeness
False Assumption: Supporting Donald Trump is a worthwhile Faustian bargain to kill wokeness without corrupting conservatism.
Written by FARAgent on February 09, 2026
In the wake of rampant progressivism, with police under siege, scholars canceled for biological candor, and illiberal ideology dominating media and universities, conservatives struck a desperate deal in 2016: back the brash outsider Trump to slay the woke monster. Embittered by culture-war defeats, many on the right elevated 'owning the libs' above principle, mutating conservatism into a vengeful beast amid Trump's audacious chaos, which initially seemed a creative destruction purging the obsolete Reaganite GOP.
Trump's unfitness soon eclipsed any redemptive spark, his narcissism, ignorance, impulsiveness, and pettiness on full parade: mocking a critic's murder as 'Trump Derangement Syndrome,' threatening military force for Greenland while linking it to Nobel snubs, questioning NATO's value despite allies' sacrifices, and demanding sycophantic loyalty that bred lies and incompetence. Conservatives' rationalizations eroded into friend-enemy nihilism, squandering moral credibility on religion, decency, family values, while Trump's declining polls alienated broader voters, risking radical left resurgence.
Critics like Never Trump Republicans warned early of this devolution; mounting questions arise as Trump's belligerence damages U.S. alliances and conservatism's soul, with growing voices urging real conservatives and centrists to reject the bargain without surrender.
People Involved
- In 2016, Never Trump Republicans emerged as early skeptics.
- They warned that aligning with Donald Trump would taint conservatism's core. These voices, often dismissed, pointed to risks of moral compromise from the start. [1]
- Donald Trump himself drove the narrative forward during his presidency. He encouraged a style marked by harshness and snap decisions. Loyalists gained from this approach, even as it strained traditional conservative values. [1]
- Bo Winegard, editing at Aporia Magazine, joined the chorus of doubt. He critiqued the deal with Trump as a path to ethical decay, urging a reevaluation amid ongoing debates. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (3)
“About Donald Trump, they were right—the Never Trump Republicans. Supporting him is not worth it.”— The Ruin of Conservatism
“Trump is not a creative destroyer who preserves what is great about the country. Rather, he is a malignant destroyer.”— The Ruin of Conservatism
“Conservatism cannot work through Trump without being degraded.”— The Ruin of Conservatism
Organizations Involved
The MAGA faction took root within conservative circles by the mid-2010s. It pushed the Trump alliance as essential, prioritizing jabs at liberals over nuanced debate. This group enforced unity through a focus on adversarial politics, where foes were clear and principles flexible. [1] Such dynamics sustained the assumption, as internal pressures rewarded those who embraced the bargain, even as critics argued it warped the movement's incentives. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“And thus conservatism began to mutate into a monster... Owning the libs became central to the MAGA movement.”— The Ruin of Conservatism
The Foundation
By the time Trump rose in 2016, progressives held sway in cultural battles. This backdrop made the idea of a Faustian pact appealing: back Trump to dismantle wokeness, ignore his shortcomings. Supporters saw it as a necessary trade, but critics argue it fostered a mindset of revenge and blind faith in Trump. [1] His blunt talk against political correctness that year fueled beliefs in a GOP renewal through disruption. Yet growing questions surround this view, as it overlooked traits like self-absorption that could undermine the cause. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“In this hostile environment, conservatives made a Faustian bargain with Donald Trump: Kill the monster and we will support you.”— The Ruin of Conservatism
“Trump was the creative destroyer. What was strong and worth preserving would survive his chaos, while the rest would fall away in ruin.”— The Ruin of Conservatism
How It Spread
Culture-war setbacks in the 2010s left many on the right resentful. This mood spread the bargain's logic across conservative networks, with social nudges urging not just wins but retribution against the left. [1] MAGA messaging amplified it further, labeling detractors as overly sensitive. Such rhetoric framed raw tactics as bold defiance of elites, normalizing them even as mounting evidence challenges whether this strengthened or eroded conservatism. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“But for many on the right, embittered by years of culture-war losses, even victory was not enough. The left had to be punished.”— The Ruin of Conservatism
“A conservative who supports Trump might respond that such a statement is indecorous and regrettable but then accuse me of “pearl clutching””— The Ruin of Conservatism
Resulting Policies
In 2025, Donald Trump floated ideas of military action and steep tariffs on the EU to claim Greenland. These stemmed from his impulsive style, straining international ties that conservatives once prized. [1] That same year, he openly doubted NATO's value, brushing off allies' past commitments in places like Afghanistan. Critics argue this reflected a demand for absolute loyalty, highlighting unreliability that debates continue to probe. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“Trump subsequently refused to rule out military force, and then threatened the EU with a 25% tariff unless Denmark ceded the territory.”— The Ruin of Conservatism
“Trump also sent a bizarre message to the prime minister of Norway... he questioned whether the United States needed NATO”— The Ruin of Conservatism
Harm Caused
Donald Trump's handling of Rob Reiner's murder drew scrutiny. It painted conservatives as inconsistent on civility, eroding their standing in moral arguments. [1] The Greenland proposals chipped away at trust in U.S. partnerships, positioning America as erratic and risking a slide into raw power struggles. [1] Loyalty demands fostered deceit, seen in false claims about Alex Pretti's death despite clear footage. [1] Falling poll numbers for Trump now stir fears of a backlash, potentially ushering in a far-left shift by 2028 that could erase prior gains, as critics contend. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (4)
“The pettiness, bitterness and narcissism of this message is hard to fathom. It is unbecoming of a petulant teenager, let alone the leader of the free world.”— The Ruin of Conservatism
“Allies of the United States learned, yet gain, that so long as Trump is president, the US is an unreliable partner in world affairs.”— The Ruin of Conservatism
“When border patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, various members of the administration immediately slandered the deceased, claiming he was an “assassin” and “domestic terrorist” who wanted to “massacre law enforcement.””— The Ruin of Conservatism
“Although he still dominates the Republican base, he is increasingly unpopular in the broader population, with his poll numbers declining by the week.”— The Ruin of Conservatism
Sources
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[1]
The Ruin of Conservatismreputable_journalism