“The Koch Brothers refused to back Trump during the election cycle, instead funneling money to congressional seats and local elections. Now, they are using their considerable political and financial muscle to oppose the Trump administration…”
The battle lines have been drawn. Come 2018, we can expect not just Democrats and Republicans to do battle, but also an intra-party between the moderate/populist Republicans who support President Trump and members of the hard-lined Freedom Caucus, many of whom are backed by the Koch Brothers.
Per usual, Trump’s declaration of war came via Twitter:
The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don't get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2017
It was ultimately the Freedom Caucus that shut down President Trump’s efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare. Many members of the caucus, as well as key backers including the Koch Brothers, believed that the GOP replacement plan didn’t go far enough in getting the government out of health care. With Freedom Caucus members abandoning the American Health Care Act, the GOP leadership was forced to scrap the bill.
Now, we can expect Trump to fire back, setting up a hard-liner vs. populist showdown. The Koch Brothers have already promised to support Freedom Caucus members who are targeted by the Trump administration. The brothers have even promised to set up a seven-figure fund specifically to support GOP legislators targeted by Trump and more centrist Republicans.
Already, Freedom Caucus member Raúl Labrador took a shot at Trump, claiming that the Caucus has been backing him. He also urged the president to remember who his “real friends are.”
@realDonaldTrump Freedom Caucus stood with u when others ran. Remember who your real friends are. We're trying to help u succeed.
— Raúl R. Labrador (@Raul_Labrador) March 30, 2017
Trump Vs. Freedom Caucus & Koch Brothers
Problem is, Trump’s policies and worldview won’t sit well with the Freedom Caucus. Trump’s mixed conservative-populism doesn’t reject government spending or a federal role in American society. A strong military, an extensive security apparatus, government support of key industries—Trump is pushing for all of the above. His tax cuts also benefit the middle class, while Freedom Caucus plans are set to primarily favor the wealthy.
The Freedom Caucus wants to shrink the federal government to a bare minimum. The Koch brothers don’t want Obamacare replaced, they want the government to be pushed completely out of health care. And if they have to break with the Trump administration to achieve their goals, Freedom Caucus members will be glad to do so.
Why? It all comes back to the Koch Brothers and their hard-lined conservative network. David and Charles Koch, the two politically active brothers, are both worth nearly $50 billion dollars each. While fellow billionaires Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are dedicating their money to fight poverty and tackle global health issues, the Koch brothers obsess over one thing: creating a libertarian-ish utopia that will see the role of the government severely restricted.
The brothers are spending and spending big to see this vision become a reality. The Koch Brothers refused to back Trump during the election cycle, instead funneling money to congressional seats and local elections. Now, they are using their considerable political and financial muscle to oppose the Trump administration.
Over the next two years, the brothers are looking to spend $300 to $400 million dollars on political issues. Many of the politicians and policies they are likely to support will be in opposition to President Trump. This could set up a major billionaire showdown come 2018, with Trump looking to expand his power in the capitol while the Koch brothers seek to limit it and pursue their own ideas.
Brian Brinker is an OpsLens Contributor and political consultant. Brinker has an M.A in Global Affairs from American University.
