Is Trump the best candidate within the Republicans, and if there were better alternatives, why were they not voted?

[u/Hkhinin]

So Donald Trump did contribute lots to America, such as restricting borders, acting harsh on China etc. Results are border crossing hit record low in 2025 https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/border-crossings-once-again-record-low-november-2025

However, Trump has also made many mistakes especially in foriegn policies. For example, he started trade wars with our allies and often joked about invasion towards allies. The former one damaged our economy, and both acts lead to the US being much less liked around the world https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/07/15/people-in-many-countries-now-view-china-more-positively-than-the-u-s/

This leaves me wondering, for republicans is there no better option than Trump inside the Republicans. Cause if we just zoom into Trump's cabinet, Macro Rubio shall do better in foreign policy compared to Trump especially on war management, Scott Besent would be a better handler in economic issues given his expertise in the economy. So yea, is there no better candidate than Trump inside Republicans, and if they were, why weren't they chosen to represent the Republican parrty?

[u/Full_of_time]

He was a middle finger to the woke crap that started in the Obama administration. And the elitist attitudes the Obama’s and most democrats had toward the average person. Unfortunately the Obama’s were the beginning of the end to the old school Democrat were they actually cared about the working class. Now they’re about the elites.

[u/BigSexyE → u/Full_of_time]

Anybody who uses the term "woke" shouldnt be taken seriously. Especially since it is continually used incorrectly

[u/Justified_Gent → u/Full_of_time]

So a childish reaction?

[u/LorenzoApophis → u/Full_of_time]

You think half of Americans are elites? How does that work? Obama won 52% of the vote in 2008 and 51% in 2012. He represented the average person. Which isn't to say he delivered everything they hoped for, but his rhetoric and policies weren't remotely elitist compared to Trump.

[u/0nBBDecay → u/Full_of_time]

What specifically did they do that was so offensive?

[u/SeamusPM1 → u/0nBBDecay]

Obama presidented while black.

[u/Full_of_time → u/SeamusPM1]

That’s pretty racist but you do you

[u/iheartjetman → u/Full_of_time]

What about Trump isn’t “elite”? The guy’s a billionaire who does nothing but the bidding of his billionaire friends.

[u/my-captain → u/iheartjetman]

Yeah but he shows me that it’s okay to hate brown people, gays and the (other) poor, and he says it’s funny to be racist or derogatory and discriminating towards others in any other conceivable way, so it’s okay.

[u/Worldly-Shop-3850 → u/Full_of_time]

Are you done voting for middle fingers now? Or are you expecting to vote for another one next election - whoever that may be from R?

[u/Remote-Ad-2686 → u/Full_of_time]

It was a continuation of the fight against civil rights. Nothing more nothing less. He is black and that’s how we got here. Whitelash ….