Right-wing socialism won’t win elections

Published September 21, 2026 4:00pm ET | Updated September 21, 2026 4:06pm ET



President Donald Trump would like voters to believe that his Republican Party is the diametric opposite of the Democratic Socialists of America. Of late, for example, he has tried to pin the radical insurgency on the entire Democratic Party, thereby framing the midterm elections as a contest over “communism.” But a closer look at the actual policies this administration supports tells a different story about its position on socialism.

Take, for example, the welfare policies coming out of the Republicans’ “midterm convention” this month in Dallas. Although most of the country understandably tuned out, the event has revealed a great deal about the state of the party establishment and its attraction to policies that seem awfully socialistic. Perhaps the most headline-grabbing announcement came from Trump himself, who vowed to give every adult a $5,000 “Trump dividend” if his party wins this November’s elections. At the same time, Vice President JD Vance was taking to the airwaves to defend a policy to put stay-at-home parents on the welfare dole through the federal Child Care and Development Fund.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.