Donald Trump Jr, the eldest son of US President Donald Trump, has emerged as a leading contender to inherit the 'Make America Great Again' movement, according to a recent poll. The 42-year-old has been a prominent campaign surrogate, delivering fiery populist speeches and engaging in the combative style that has become synonymous with his father's political brand.
A SurveyMonkey poll for Axios in January found that among Republicans asked who they would consider voting for in 2024, Trump Jr ranked second only to Vice-President Mike Pence. His sister Ivanka Trump came fourth. The poll highlights the enduring appeal of the Trump family within the Republican party, even as the president trails Democratic challenger Joe Biden in national polls.
Trump Jr has honed his political skills on the campaign trail, often targeting Democrats with sharp rhetoric. During a recent event in Arizona to launch the 'Native Americans for Trump' coalition, he accused Democrats of pandering and lying to Native communities. His performances have drawn praise from supporters and criticism from opponents, who see him as a master of 'owning the libs'—a phrase used to describe the act of provoking liberals.
Rick Wilson, a longtime Republican strategist and co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, described Trump Jr as a 'post-Republican Republican' who embodies the current ideological underpinning of the party: a focus on performative outrage rather than policy. 'There's no party of ideas any longer,' Wilson said. 'There's no there there except for sort of the screeching fury of Trumpism.'
Trump Jr has written books such as Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us and appears frequently on conservative media. When asked about a potential run for office, he told CSpan's Books TV that he has no plans to run at the moment, but added: 'I will stay involved, one way or another, that's for sure.'
