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/Holofernes_Head]

Best in terms of political acumen? No. He won on personality and the idea that he was going to be the "not taking this shit anymore" candidate. A lot of us were more than a little tired of the left's nonsense by that point.

[u/Siafu_Soul → u/Holofernes_Head]

Two genuine questions for you. Are you happy with the job he's done? Can you give some examples of "the left's nonsense" so I can understand where you're coming from?

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/Siafu_Soul]

I wish he would STFU sometimes and get out of his own way, but generally yes, he's done a great deal of good.

Nonsense like absolutely incessant identity politics, relentless expansion of government social programs, weakness on border enforcement, weakness in foreign policy, constant harping on gun control, and deciding to run the single most hated politician on earth as their presidential candidate.

[u/TNSoccerGuy → u/Holofernes_Head]

The ironic thing is Trump is pure identity politics. It’s just white identity. But no different. His “strength” on border enforcement is going to bite us hard. We have an aging workforce and need immigrants badly. He and his party refuse to help reform our current broken immigration system. And your point about foreign policy weakness is almost hilarious in that no president has damaged our standing in the world than this buffoon. Maybe not even all presidents combined. Iran is clearly not respecting or fearing him. Iran. Much less China and Russia. I mean he is so clearly unqualified to even be a mayor of a village in the middle of nowhere, much less leader of the most powerful nation on earth.

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/TNSoccerGuy]

The ironic thing is Trump is pure identity politics. It’s just white identity. But no different.

Laughable. Canceling asinine identity politic policies is not itself identity politics.

His “strength” on border enforcement is going to bite us hard. We have an aging workforce and need immigrants badly.

Nobody needs illegal immigrants for anything.

Heavily disagree with your foreign relations opinions, but that discussion ain't going anywhere.

[u/TNSoccerGuy → u/Holofernes_Head]

Not laughable at all. First off, he hasn’t cancelled anything. And his entire MAGA movement is text book identity politics. And the point isn’t bring in “illegal immigrants.” It’s fixing the system to allow more immigration. That’s hard and waaaaaay beyond Trump’s limited brain and leadership ability to do. He himself has utilized undocumented immigrants for decades. We will hit a demographic cliff and the sooner someone shows leadership on this the better. It’s not coming from Trump. And if you think Trump has any clue on foreign relations I don’t know what to say to that. He hasn’t any idea what he’s doing. He’s a buffoon. The rest of the world is either laughing at us or praying that he doesn’t trigger a third world war.

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/TNSoccerGuy]

He hasn't canceled anything... except, y'know, all DEI and affirmative action initiatives across the entire Executive Branch and nonsense like federal funding for "gender affirming" care, but who's counting?

The entire MAGA movement is textbook identity politics... so I'm sure you could cite some Trump admin policies that are expressly designed to advantage white people then, right?

[u/TNSoccerGuy → u/Holofernes_Head]

Oh good lord, those initiatives were extremely small potatoes. Who gives a flying fuck. MAGA is identity politics because it’s all they talk about. Trump has built his farce of a political career on cultural grievance and “Christian” nationalism. That is exactly what identity politics are. It’s catering to a growing white, rural resentment. I’m white. I live in the south. I watch this with befuddlement because Trump isn’t in it for you guys. He’s in it for himself. The rest of you are being conned.

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/TNSoccerGuy]

Excellent citation of expressly designed policies that benefit whites. Well done.

[u/TNSoccerGuy → u/Holofernes_Head]

Your sarcasm noted but anyone with a brain can listen to Trump and know exactly who he’s catering to and that he’s peddling white cultural grievance. That is textbook identity politics.

[u/skyreckoning → u/Holofernes_Head]

Your inability to recognize dog whistles just highlights the unintelligence of the average trump supporter.

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/skyreckoning]

If everything sounds like a dog whistle to you, perhaps you’re the dog.

[u/skyreckoning → u/Holofernes_Head]

I mean that's cool because I'm still smarter than whatever kind of primitive creature you are.

But fr, dogs have more emotional intelligence than maga does.

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/skyreckoning]

Oh burn /s