Political positions of the Republican Party (United States)
| This article is part of a series on |
| Conservatism in the United States |
|---|
The platform of the Republican Party of the United States has historically been based on American conservatism, contrasting with the modern liberalism of the Democratic Party. The positions of the Republican Party have evolved over time. Until recently, the party's fiscal conservatism included support for lower taxes, gun rights, government conservatism, free market capitalism, free trade, deregulation of corporations, and restrictions on labor unions. However, starting under the first presidency of Donald Trump and dramatically accelerating in the second presidency of Donald Trump, there has been a major realignment towards protectionism through the imposition of large-scale tariffs on the U.S. import of goods from countries around the world.
The party's social conservatism includes support for gun rights outlined in the Second Amendment, the death penalty, and other traditional values, often with a Christian foundation, including restrictions on abortion. In foreign policy, Republicans usually favor increased military spending, strong national defense, and unilateral action. Other Republican positions include opposition to illegal immigration, drug legalization, and affirmative action, as well as support for school choice.