Michael Reagan, the son of the late President Ronald Reagan, recently expressed his belief that President-elect Donald Trump’s leadership is not only compatible with his father’s legacy but is also the robust approach America requires in these challenging times. In an interview with Breitbart, Reagan, who serves as president of the Reagan Legacy Foundation, articulated his strong support for Trump’s leadership style, asserting that it does not undermine his father’s contributions.
Reagan emphasized the importance of strength in leadership, stating that Trump’s presidency is essential to “right the ship” during a tumultuous period, a sentiment that resonates with the resilience that characterized his father’s administration. Reflecting on Ronald Reagan’s iconic “Morning in America” slogan, he noted the similarities between the current political climate and that of his father’s era. “It’s morning. We just got to keep it going,” Reagan remarked.
In a recent op-ed, he further elaborated on the political landscape, declaring, “It’s mourning in America for the Democrats — m-o-u-r-n-i-n-g — which is exactly what’s going on.” However, he cautioned against complacency, urging Republicans to remain vigilant: “We cannot take a breath and say, oh, let’s just relax now, because the left … is not relaxing.”
Reagan shared insights from his conversations with individuals around the globe who are concerned about America’s direction and are yearning for a “strong” leader. “We need you, America. We need America to be strong. When are you going to elect a strong leader again?” he recounted, underscoring the international call for decisive American leadership. He firmly believes that Trump answers this call, stating, “We just did on Tuesday, and now we have to support him.”
Addressing concerns that Trump’s policies might overshadow Ronald Reagan’s legacy, Michael Reagan dismissed such worries. When asked if he felt disheartened by the prospect of Trump “stepping on all your father’s stuff,” he responded, “My father was 40 years ago … he had his time and fixed it. We had to fix it again.”
Reagan articulated the cyclical nature of leadership needs, drawing parallels between Trump’s current mandate and the challenges faced by his father. He asserted, “It’s a different time. … Forty years later, we need a strong leader today to right the ship again.”
He also acknowledged Trump’s transformative impact on the Republican Party, recalling his initial concerns in 2015 that Trump would “destroy the party.” However, he now credits Trump with revitalizing the GOP and attracting new voters. “He broke it to fix it,” Reagan stated, suggesting that Trump has successfully “rebuilt it in a new image, with new people,” akin to his father’s remarkable electoral success.
“Forget the tweets, forget all this other stuff that goes on. It’s about leadership, and it’s about moving really moving forward,” he concluded, reinforcing the notion that effective leadership is paramount in today’s political landscape.
