What are the divisions within the Republican party since Trump has become President?

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What are the divisions between the Republicans word document

What are the divisions within the Republican party since Trump became President?

Donald Trump's capturing of the nomination for President and then his subsequent victory in the election has shaken up the Republican establishment.  The Republican Party is made up of series of conflicting and overlapping groups.  Some members of these groups are working well with the new POTUS, others, less so.

Conservative Republicans

• The Conservative wing of the party have been committed to a reduction in the size of Government.  By this they want an end to government regulation and government spending.
• They like strong law and order but they are opposed to increased gun controls
• They are traditionally support free trade. 
• The Republican Study Committee is home to many of these Representatives.

Some Conservative Republicans have seen their relationship with Donald Trump.  As seen in the video Jeff Flake has faced the wrath of Trump's tweet.

To read more about this you can look at this Guardian article 

Others, such as the people from the Huffington Post have questioned as to whether the Republican Party is still Conservative 

Christian Right

Since the 1980s various Evangelical groups decided they needed to support the Republican Party to halt what they saw in the decline in American values.

• They support any initiatives which are in line with what they believe to be Christian values.  In this way they are anti abortion, suspicious of LGBT rights and keen to place Christian teachings within school environements.

Trump has appointed various evangelical Christians to key positions within his cabinet as illustrated in the video.

Moderate Conservatives

Moderate Republicans as the name suggests are considered the more liberal end of the party.  They have been referred to as RINO’s, Republicans in Name Only. 

They may well share the desire for a balance budget and less government regulation but they maybe willing to bend on these if they see it in the best interests of the American people.  They also may have a more liberal attitude on gun control, abortion and might reject American intervention in global issues.

Since Trump appointment some within this group have opposed Trump's reform of healthcare.  For example Susan Collins who was repeatedly threatened to vote against the bill. 

This New York Times article questions how authentically moderate they are. 

This article questions as to whether there is any point in being a Moderate anymore in the Republican Party

Neoconservatives

Neoconservatives were a rising force through the 1980s and 1990s.  They gained their real voice in the Bush government of the 2000s where they rose to prominence in the shape of figure like Paul Wolfowitz, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld.  They pushed for an interventionist foreign policy where America would involve itself in conflicts around the globe to promote democracy and further American interests.  They were central to the decision to invade Iraq. 

Since the end of the Bush presidency and the continuing problems of Iraq.  They have shrunk in prominence.   Many neocon Republicans emphasied their concern at Trump's belief in a non interventionist America.  They have been appeased as Trump has used military force in Afghanistan and Syria and taken a tough line over North Korea.

Libertarians

The Libertarian element of the Republican party are relatively small

• They like many Republicans want a much smaller government and seek a greater reduction in government regulation and taxation
• What marks them out amongst their Conservative brethern is their opposition to American interventionism. 

Rand Paul was one of only two Senators who voted against increasing sanctions against Iran and Russia.  A Bill that Trump himself opposed.  Though this does show how Libertarians like Rand are happy to stand apart from the rest of the party.

Freedom Caucus

Formed from Tea Party members.  This group seek to:

• Reduce government spending drastically.
• Reduce government regulation.
• Reduce taxation.

This group fell foul of Donald Trump when they voted against initial attempts to repeal Obamacare.  There were concerns from their quarter that the bill did not go far enough to remove what they saw was the intrusiveness of government in healthcare.

This article explores why elements of the Freedom Caucus voted against the Bill

This article explains how conflict flared between Trump and the Freedom Caucus

Populist

There has been a rise in the Republican Party of a populist element characterised by President Trump himself.   They generally stand for an anti globalist perspective (lack of interest in the UN, Europe etc) anti immigrant and anti elitist whether they perceive that in the media or politicians whether they be Democrat or in some cases Republican.

There is already unease in the mainstream of the Republican party over the rise of the Populists.  If you look at the nomination of Roy Moore in Alabama you can already see that even President Trump might not get his own way as you can see from this article in the Washington Post