I got to thinking of Mike Johnson and how he’s the weakest Speaker of the House I can remember in my lifetime. The Speaker of the House of Representatives is typically one of the most powerful figures in Congress as they control the House’s legislative agenda, appointments to committees, and more often than not they have wide support among their own party. Johnson seems to be Speaker only because he’s one of Trump’s stooges. Without that defining feature, he wouldn’t be Speaker or have the support of the GOP.
This got me to thinking wondering if there are MAGA politicians at the federal level who are strong independent of their relationship with Trump? Ted Cruz comes immediate to mind, but who are the others?
No, not in the 2nd Trump administration or in any way connected to it or the MAGA movement in 2025, and that’s entirely by design. There were a couple of vaguely competent (if entirely immoral) individuals in the first administration, who then went public about how awful the trump administration was. He won’t make that mistake again.
Every single person associated with trump or Maga, or in any kind of position of power in his administration is weak simpering incompetent lackey, who owes absolutely everything to trump and wouldn’t be trusted to run a branch of MacDonalds without him. Thats entirely by design and the fact they are utterly unqualified and entirely beholden to Trump is the only qualification they have for the job, and they only one required (unless you have a few hundred billion dollars to grease his palm, in which case he’ll make an exception, for a while at least)
Fair. I don’t think I have a clear picture in my own mind about what it means to be a strong politician. At it’s most basic, I’m thinking of a politician that is well respected and connected, with the ability to get their agendas done by working with their party and even by crossing the aisle. Though crossing the aisle seems to be a thing of the past.
I’ve been wondering if Bannon and Miller have been quietly and intentionally grooming someone to take trump’s place when he finally croaks off – behind the scenes, or at least out of the spotlight. I don’t see them trusting the Republican party’s choice, namely, J.D. Vance, to step into the puppet strings they’ve been using to control Donnie.
If a Democrat tries that, they are accused of refusing to fight.
I think the answer to the thread title is that becauses MAGA supports one man rule, there can only be one truly strong MAGA politician at a time.
The MAGA leadership style is the opposite of congressional government. So strong MAGA political figures will be appointed by the dictator rather than elected.
Stephen Chung may be the strongest MAGA politician, other than Donald Trump, at the moment. For those unfamiliar with Mr. Chung, see:
I’d be interested in a comment on this. These two guys have got to have/be making plans B through Z to keep Project 20256 on track. I don’t think they care who the Republican president is, as long as it’s someone who can be played like a Steinway knock-off. Who do they want to be president?
Being a MAGA politician means praising Trump all the time. If you don’t you get MTG’d. It’s hard to be strong that way. There are a number of Republican politicians that I believe don’t agree with Trump but they know it would hurt them with their base to not bury him in compliments. That’s not strength but the other choice is get out of politics. This really is the worst timeline
Exactly. As far as I can tell this is the answer to the OP’s question.
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Fair. I don’t think I have a clear picture in my own mind about what it means to be a strong politician. At it’s most basic, I’m thinking of a politician that is well respected and connected, with the ability to get their agendas done by working with their party and even by crossing the aisle.
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If being “strong independent of Trump” is part of the criteria then there is not nor will there be again a “strong MAGA” politician. MAGA is not a political party, it’s a cult of personality and no one can be allowed to challenge the cult leaders dominance or strength. If it looks like they may possibly be able to do so they are sidelined, primaried, retire when they see the writing on the wall, or deliberately placed in a subordinate position so they can learn their place via belittling. See Rubio, Marco.
It’s the same reason high ranking officials keep falling out of windows in Russia. Thankfully we haven’t seen this happening yet here, but you don’t challenge the strongman. If it looks like you’re even feinting in that direction you get “dealt with." In whatever way is most expedient.
ETA: Sorry, not sure why the second quote isn’t formatting correctly.
In a group like MAGA, strength goes downward, obsequiousness goes upwards. You only show “strength” when abusing the people below you. You kiss the asses of the people above you. Anyone who bucks this is dealt with.
So they never show strength in opposing Der Fuhrer, for fear of being removed.
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