The Republican Party may regret some of the efforts it undertook to install Trump-aligned officials, according to a new editorial.
The Wall Street Journal's conservative editorial board published a new op-ed on Sunday arguing that the GOP's acquiescence to President Donald Trump's "executive-power excesses" gives Democrats precedent to use the same tactics against them. It was published at a time when the Senate appeared poised to confirm White House aide Stephen Miran to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
"A tragedy of the Trump years is the failure of Republicans to look beyond short-term tactical political calculations to the implications of their decisions for the long term," the editorial reads. "A progressive President will be able to point to Mr. Trump and Senate precedent if he tries to put a White House official on the Fed as Mr. Trump is now doing."
"The failure to resist Mr. Trump’s executive-power excesses today will hurt the GOP and the country in the future," it continues.
Miran may join the Federal Reserve at a time when Trump is seeking to exert control over the central bank. He has consistently attacked members like Chairman Jerome Powell and Governor Lisa Cook because they do not support lowering interest rates.
The WSJ editors argued that installing Miran would draw the central bank's independence into question. Miran has said he plans to keep his job in the White House while serving on the board.
"Everyone knows he will be speaking for, and answering to, the President," the editorial reads.
The editors also warned that the GOP's actions could harm the country.
"The GOP might regret the precedent the next time there’s a Democratic President," the op-ed reads in part. "Which there will be, maybe as soon as 2029."
