Republicans on Capitol Hill Have Reasons to Unify Behind Donald Trump
Congressional districts are far more gerrymandered than they were even 20 years ago; Republican members of Congress, by and large, come from very Republican districts. In the relatively few swing districts, Republicans cannot afford to alienate their base voters, many of whom may have voted for Mr. Trump in the primary (or other Republican presidential candidates) but could stay home in November if they are put off by party infighting.
.. 3. They think they can control him
Then there is the nature of Mr. Trump himself, whose policy positions are most politely understood as flexible. Congressional Republicans hope that if he becomes president, it will be they, not he, setting the agenda in Washington.
.. In contrast, Mr. Dallek said, “I think Republicans may feel they can control Trump because he is such a novice.
.. The policy areas in which Mr. Trump has shown the most commitment — trade and immigration — are ones Congressional Republicans who oppose him realize they may not be able to win. They seem poised to cede them in the name of broad unity with Mr. Trump on other matters.
.. His biggest critics on Capitol Hill among Republicans are those not up for re-election — Senators Jeff Flake of Arizona, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
.. “I consider him to be a malicious and malignant figure on the American political landscape — cruel, crude, vindictive, obsessive, narcissistic, a nativist and xenophobe, a man who seems to relish demeaning and dehumanizing others,” wrote Peter Wehner, a former director of the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives under President George W. Bush and friend of Mr. Ryan’s, in an opinion article.