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The Republican Party is grappling with significant internal divisions as new research reveals deep fractures within the party over fundamental questions of presidential power and constitutional authority. A comprehensive study from the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University and Public Agenda surveyed 4,500 Americans and identified three distinct factions within the Republican Party that are reshaping the political landscape.
The first group, Trump-first Republicans making up 29 percent of the party, advocates for broad presidential authority and support allowing Donald Trump to run for a third term, even if it means bypassing Congress to achieve policy goals. The second faction, Constitution-first Republicans at 34 percent, prioritizes checks and balances and limited presidential authority, with most having voted for Trump but opposing any constitutional changes to permit a third term. The third group, Party-first Republicans comprising 36 percent, remains less engaged and expresses uncertainty about the scope of presidential powers.
These divisions are creating real consequences for Republican politics. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Georgia congresswoman who served as a prominent Trump backer, resigned from Congress on Friday in a dramatic split. Greene released an 11-minute video criticizing Republicans for failing to deliver on their agenda despite controlling Washington, and she specifically criticized President Trump for abandoning positions he previously championed. She expressed frustration over the administration's handling of the Epstein files release, which Trump initially promised to release quickly but later resisted, even calling Republicans who supported the measure stupid and branding Greene herself a traitor.
Trump's response has been characteristically erratic. He told ABC News that Greene's departure was good for the country, posted on Truth Social that she was a traitor who would have lost a primary, and then told NBC News within hours that he would love to see her return to politics eventually. This contradiction underscores the tension within the party about what it means to be Republican in the Trump era.
Beyond these internal conflicts, Americans broadly express deep concerns about democracy itself. Eighty-four percent say democracy is either in crisis or facing serious challenges, with only 11 percent saying it is doing well. Trust in elections remains fractured, with one-third of Americans questioning whether federal elections are free and fair. Republicans remain sharply divided on the legitimacy of the 2020 election, with only 18 percent confident that Joe Biden won, compared to 96 percent of Democrats.
The party is also fragmenting over media consumption and information sources. Republicans increasingly turn to cable news and podcasts rather than traditional broadcast media, with many preferring outlets that challenge mainstream narratives. This divergence in information ecosystems is reinforcing the ideological splits already evident within the party.
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