Ronald Reagan’s elder son, Michael Reagan, is a long-time friend of the Republican party. For years, he has tried to carry on his father’s legacy, particularly with his work as president of the Reagan Legacy Foundation. He is, however, no fan of The Donald. And on Sunday night, he launched a tweetstorm against the Republican presidential nominee that is still going on today.
Both Reagan Brothers Have Spoken Out Against The Donald
Republicans love to invoke Ronald Reagan. A beloved and highly popular president, they continue to try to ride his coattails to this day. (Of course, they still try to invoke the progressive Lincoln’s name, too, but that’s a story for another article!) Listen to any Republican politician long enough, and you will hear “the party of Reagan.”
Michael Reagan has long been at the forefront of all this. He is president of the Reagan Legacy Foundation, which is dedicated, in part, to “advancing the causes President Reagan held dear.” I should state that I am no fan of Michael Reagan or his politics. I can, however, say that he is principled, even if I disagree with him on almost everything.
There is one issue, though, on which Michael Reagan and I can agree, and that is Donald Trump.
Sunday evening’s tweetstorm is not the first time Michael Reagan has spoken out against The Donald. He and his brother, the very liberal Ron Reagan Jr., talked to Politico in September, 2015, about the presidential race. Even then, Michael was no fan of Trump. When asked about Ann Coulter’s statement that “Trump is the new Reagan,” Michael Reagan responded with:
“Ann Coulter has no idea what she’s talking about. Trump Republicans bash everyone in the building and blow it up on the way out. Ronald Reagan rebuilds the building as he goes through it.”
I disagree with Michael’s assessment of his father’s presidency, in general. I think he did some truly awful things while in office. Today’s Republican party, however, would throw Ronnie out. They’d say he’s “too liberal.” They’d call him a “RINO.” And yet, they still bring him up every chance they can.
Michael Reagan: ‘I Can Hear My Father Saying I Didn’t Leave The Party The Party Left Me’
An article appeared on Politico on October 1, 2016, in which The Donald questions Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s loyalty. Michael Reagan found it disgusting, and he tweeted the article several times, each time with new commentary:
No way do I or would my father support this garbage.Trump on Clinton: 'I don't even think she's loyal to Bill' https://t.co/zTBMcB3wUi
— Michael Reagan (@ReaganWorld) October 3, 2016
If this is where he is going I cannot follow him..Trump on Clinton: 'I don't even think she's loyal to Bill' https://t.co/zTBMcB3wUi
— Michael Reagan (@ReaganWorld) October 3, 2016
I can hear my father saying I didnt leave the Party the Party left me.'I don't even think she's loyal to Bill' https://t.co/zTBMcB3wUi
— Michael Reagan (@ReaganWorld) October 3, 2016
His followers were, of course, taken aback. What happened to their conservative stalwart? Given the venerated status his father has among so-called conservatives, Michael Reagan is, literally, the son of God, is he not?
They wasted no time letting Michael know how they felt, and he responded in kind.
When user @TheLawMuse tried to say that a Clinton presidency would usher in an apocalypse of sorts, Michael responded with:
Getting a Point with Trump where I just don't give a shit… https://t.co/LDexHH8KIM
— Michael Reagan (@ReaganWorld) October 3, 2016
User @Yupik_Eskimos apparently thought that Nancy was Michael’s mother and said she was “loyal to the end, and beyond.” Michael tweeted back:
Jane Wyman was my mother but I can tell u that Nancy would vote for Hillary and was appalled to hear people say he reminds them of RR. https://t.co/DKsikyfuWs
— Michael Reagan (@ReaganWorld) October 3, 2016
And when user @Karey1975 told him that he needed to “remove his Republican stamp and move on to liberalville,” Michael said:
I am embarrassed by Trump and the applause he receives when infering she cheats on Bill..Not the Party of Reagan..Someone has to stand up https://t.co/ATYzc9HPj5
— Michael Reagan (@ReaganWorld) October 3, 2016
He continued on like this for a good portion of the evening, even responding to one “Unfollowing!” comment with, “Not a problem, Good Bye.”
If Michael Reagan Can’t Change Minds, Who Can?
Michael Reagan’s conservative cred runs deep and has a long history. His status as the son of Ronald Reagan only scratches the surface of that. After all, his younger brother’s liberal cred runs just as deep. Michael is, however, someone who has dedicated his life to preserving his father’s legacy, and his father is a man whom Republicans put on a pedestal. He has written books on conservative topics and rubbed shoulders with many of the Republican elite. He’s not just some random guy ranting on Twitter.
And even he says that his father and stepmother, if they were alive today, would cast their votes for Hillary Clinton.
Michael Reagan appeared on CNN in June to rant against Trump. Watch it here:
Featured Image via screenshot from YouTube video
