In a development that would have seemed unthinkable a year ago, a Trump-backed candidate in Iowa has suffered a primary defeat. This is not just a local setback; it is a seismic tremor in the political landscape, one that suggests the former president’s grip on the Republican Party may be loosening.
Let us cast our minds back to the fall of the Roman Republic, when Sulla’s legions marched on Rome, only for their leader to later retire in disillusionment. Trump, like Sulla, has cultivated a cult of personality that seemed invincible. But Iowa whispers a different story: the machine is faltering. The candidate in question, a loyalist through and through, lost to a more moderate opponent. This is the first crack in the marble facade.
Intellectual decadence has long been a theme of my columns, and here we see it in action. The devout followers, the true believers, they still chant his name. But the broader electorate, particularly in a state as measured as Iowa, are beginning to tire of the constant upheaval. They crave stability, not chaos. And Trump, for all his bluster, represents chaos incarnate.
National identity, too, plays a role. Iowans see themselves as sensible, grounded. They do not take kindly to being told who to vote for, even by a demigod. This defeat is a rebellion against the very notion of anointed successors. It is the death knell for the idea that a Trump endorsement is a golden ticket.
What we are witnessing is the beginning of the end of the Trump era. The historical cycles are clear: populist waves rise, crest, and then recede. The question is not whether Trump will fade, but what will be left in the wake. A party torn asunder? A nation more divided than ever? Or perhaps a reawakening of the old guard, the establishment he sought to dismantle?
For now, let us savour this moment. It is a reminder that no man is above the democratic process, not even one with a devoted following. The king is naked, and the people of Iowa have seen it.
