Will the Republican Party survive Donald Trump?

Tweet

One notable feature of Donald Trump's latest piece of nonsense - namely his call for all Muslims to be banned from entering the United States - has been almost universal condemnation from his fellow Republicans. Even those who might be thought to be on the "hard right" of the Party - such as Dick Cheney and Paul Ryan - have been quick to distance themselves from Trump's announced policy, which they see as being not only unconstitutional but deeply damaging politically. Any claims that the Republican Party might make to being an inclusive party that appeals to all communities in America seem to be being jeopardised by the divisive nature of Trump's rhetoric. However, every time Trump says something outrageous his poll ratings go up rather than down! He seems to be speaking to a part of the American electorate that is of a similar mind to himself - the white working class. This is the elecorate that traditionally votes Republican, so Trump's popularity is deeply worrying to the other Republican Presidential candidates. How can they reject Trump's objectional views without at the same time alieinating a major part of their political base? Is the Party moving in a direction that is not where they want it to go? How can they get it back? In other words, is the long-term Trump effect going to be to tear apart the very Party that he claims to support?