others suggested that trump's popularity among the republican base did not translate into as much gop candidate loyalty as expected. still others opined that republican legislation and policies during the trump administration continued to reflect the traditional priorities of republican donors, appointees and congressional leaders. jeet heer of "new republic" suggested that trump's ascendancy was the "natural evolutionary product of republican platforms and strategies that stretch back to the very origins of modern conservatism"; heer and others have connected trump to the party's use of the southern strategy to increase support among southern whites by appealing to racism.