How divides emerged at the heart of Trump’s Maga world

December 16, 2025

President Trump recently told his cabinet that his successor as the 2028 Republican presidential nominee is likely among them, though he confirmed he won't seek a third term. His MAGA movement faces internal divisions as various potential heirs—including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Who is affected

President Donald Trump and his political legacy
Potential 2028 Republican presidential candidates including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (who resigned from Congress)
Elon Musk (who has condemned certain Trump policies)
"Core Republicans" (65% of current Republican voters who have supported party nominees since 2016)
"New entrant Republicans" (29% of Republican voters who are younger, more diverse, and hold less orthodox conservative views)
Republican Party congressional members and candidates
Conservative organizations like the Heritage Foundation
Democratic Party (winning recent gubernatorial and special elections)
Minority and working-class voters who supported Trump in 2024

What action is being taken

Trump is confirming he will not seek a third term and is speculating about 2028 successors
Various Trump administration officials are implementing their respective policy agendas (Kennedy on health policy, Noem on immigration enforcement)
Conservative factions are feuding over the inclusion of far-right commentator Nick Fuentes in the movement
Congressional Democrats are using the filibuster to block some of Trump's agenda
The Manhattan Institute is conducting comprehensive surveys of Republican voters to understand coalition composition

Why it matters

Trump's MAGA movement has fundamentally transformed the Republican Party from Reagan-era principles of free-market economics and internationalism to America First nationalism, secure borders, and economic nationalism. The durability of this coalition is uncertain because new Republican voters show weaker party loyalty, with only just over half saying they would "definitely" support Republicans in upcoming mid-term elections. The succession question carries enormous stakes as potential heirs represent vastly different ideological wings—from Silicon Valley libertarians to vaccine skeptics to immigration hardliners—and whoever wins the nomination must maintain this diverse, sometimes contradictory coalition to preserve electoral success. Recent Democratic victories in local and state elections suggest the coalition may already be weakening without Trump at the top of the ticket, threatening Republican electoral prospects and the president's political legacy.

What's next

The 2026 mid-term congressional elections will test the Republican coalition's strength without Trump on the ballot, with concerns that the party may struggle to deliver victories. The 2028 presidential election will ultimately determine who inherits leadership of the MAGA movement and whether they can maintain Trump's coalition. The Republican Party faces ongoing decisions about drawing "clear lines about who sets the agenda" regarding controversial figures and which factions of new versus core Republicans will define the party's future direction.

Read full article from source: BBC