The Republican National Committee (RNC) is now making job applicants pass a loyalty test straight out of an authoritarian playbook. The burning question that determines their future at the RNC: “Was the 2020 election stolen?” This isn’t just a question; it’s a litmus test to gauge unwavering loyalty to former President Donald Trump and his baseless claims of election fraud.
Despite zero evidence and a litany of dismissed court cases, Trump has clung to the narrative of a stolen victory like a lifeline, even suggesting a dystopian solution of “terminating” the Constitution to reclaim his seat in the Oval Office. With Trump gearing up for the 2024 presidential race, he’s reshaping the RNC in his image, starting by appointing loyalists Michael Whatley and Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, as the new co-chairs.
Their first order of business? Axing every single RNC staff member and offering them a chance to reapply, provided they can prove their fealty to Trump’s cause. According to The Washington Post, senior Trump campaign advisers are now gatekeeping RNC employment with a question that puts applicants’ principles on the line. Admitting the 2020 election was fair and square is tantamount to career suicide within the organization.
This isn’t just about weeding out dissent; it’s an alarming shift towards blind allegiance to a single figure, reminiscent of tactics used by fascist regimes. It transforms the RNC from a political institution into a cult of personality, where truth is malleable, and loyalty to Trump overshadows democracy itself.
The Biden campaign condemned this development as a stark indication of Trump’s vision for America – a place where democracy is discarded if it doesn’t serve his interests, even to the point of endorsing violence and authoritarian rule.
This loyalty test, though not formally an oath, effectively serves the same purpose, demanding unwavering belief in Trump’s false narrative as a prerequisite for employment. It’s a chilling development for American politics, underscoring a dangerous slide towards extremism and the undermining of democratic principles.
As Trump’s grip tightens on the GOP, this latest move by the RNC not only threatens the integrity of the party but also poses a stark question to its members and the broader public: In Trump’s GOP, is there room for democracy, or is loyalty to Trump the only currency of value? This is a pivotal moment for the party and the country, a time to decide whether allegiance to one man can, or should, override the foundational principles of democracy and truth.
