GOP’s human-hater turn by Robert Perez

In the wake of Donald Trump’s re-election, the Republican Party completed its transformation into a political machine driven not by traditional conservatism, but by the extreme ideology of Trumpism. The influence of the MAGA movement and its most radical adherents has turned the GOP into a party that thrives on division, fear, and an obsession with identifying and persecuting so-called enemies of the state. Once a party that at least claimed to uphold American values, it has now evolved into a political force that actively seeks to alienate and endanger vast swaths of the population, from transgender individuals to Catholics, and beyond.

The Republican Party once stood for small government, fiscal responsibility, and states’ rights. However, under Trump’s iron grip, these principles have been cast aside in favor of a politics that is more authoritarian, exclusionary, and vengeful. MAGA loyalists have weaponized government power against marginalized communities, focusing their political energy not on solving real issues like economic inequality or healthcare, but on cultural purges that target anyone who does not conform to their vision of "real America."

Trump and his MAGA cronies have doubled down on their rhetoric, encouraging the persecution of transgender individuals through draconian laws that erase their rights and dignity. What began as "bathroom bills" has escalated into laws barring gender-affirming care, bans on drag performances, and even efforts to criminalize parents and doctors who support trans youth. This is not about protecting children or religious freedom, it’s about control and erasure.

It is ironic that a party which claims to uphold religious liberty is now waging war against Catholicism. The GOP has long courted evangelical Christians, leveraging their influence to justify policies that discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and women. However, the new Republican orthodoxy views Catholic social teachings, many of which emphasize social justice, care for the poor, and human dignity, as incompatible with the MAGA vision. The weaponization of Christianity to serve political ends has always been a MAGA hallmark, but now, even Catholics who advocate for immigrant rights or economic justice are being cast as enemies.

Pope Francis himself has become a target of far-right conservatives, who deride his calls for compassion and environmental stewardship as "woke" ideology. Prominent Catholic figures who criticize Trump’s policies find themselves vilified, proving that in the MAGA movement, faith is only acceptable when it aligns with Trumpism.

The GOP, as it exists under Trump, is no longer a party that seeks to unite Americans under a common cause. Instead, it thrives on division, pushing dangerous conspiracy theories, vilifying the media, and treating opposition not as fellow Americans but as existential threats. This has led to an increase in political violence, as Trump and his allies continue to stoke paranoia about "deep state" actors and so-called traitors within the country. The January 6th insurrection was not an anomaly, it was a preview of the GOP’s willingness to embrace extremism to maintain power.

Anyone who does not submit to the MAGA ideology is a potential target. Transgender people, Catholics, immigrants, journalists, academics, and even moderate Republicans have found themselves at the receiving end of this movement’s wrath. The erosion of democratic norms and the encouragement of mob mentality have put every American in danger.

Perhaps the greatest threat posed by Trump’s GOP is to the democratic system itself. Voting rights are under attack, with MAGA lawmakers pushing laws that make it harder for marginalized communities to vote. The judicial system is being stacked with ideologues who prioritize MAGA loyalty over constitutional principles. Meanwhile, Trump and his loyalists are actively working to dismantle any checks on their power, making clear that their end goal is not governance, but absolute rule.

In past years, Republicans at least paid lip service to democracy. Today, they openly discuss the idea of suspending elections, ignoring court rulings, and using the government to crush political opposition. The MAGA movement is no longer just about Trump—it is about creating a permanent autocracy where dissent is punished and loyalty to the leader is the only currency that matters.