The coming civil war over the soul of the post-Trump GOP

Published September 8, 2025 2:00pm ET



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This week’s National Conservatism Conference in Washington, D.C., laid bare the battle for the GOP’s post-Trump soul. As President Donald Trump’s run as the main character of American politics  — extended by four years dominating the spotlight while out of power — nears its end, the Republican Party braces for a clash over free markets, global leadership, and the definition of American identity. 

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