How Greenwich Republicans Learned to Love Trump
Evan Osnos notes:
“In 2016, nobody was surprised that Clinton beat Trump
in Greenwich, fifty-seven per cent to thirty-nine. But that portrait—of liberal
cosmopolitans appalled by Trump—obscures a potent element of American politics:
the executive class of the Republican Party. Its members are wealthier, more
conservative, and more politically active than their forebears, in ways that
have helped Trump reach the White House, survive impeachment, and fortify his
bid for reelection during the anguish of the coronavirus pandemic. Understanding
how he retains the overwhelming support of Republicans requires an accounting
of not only what he promised Americans at the bottom but also what he provides
Americans at the top.
The story of Trump’s rise is often told as a hostile
takeover. In truth, it is something closer to a joint venture, in which members
of America’s élite accepted the terms of Trumpism as the price of power”.
No president is immune from prosecution. The court
has a chance to prove it.