The Republican Party's Trump Messaging Strategy - What's Next?

Editor's Note:  The is the first part of David Johnson's analysis of Donald Trump's media dominance.  Click here to read part two, Donald Trump's Communications Strategy - Is the End Near?By David E. Johnson, CEO, Strategic Vision PR GroupRepublican presidential candidate, Donald Trump has set off yet again another media firestorm.  The Republican frontrunner has called for all Muslims seeking to enter the United States to be barred from doing so.  This came as the focus of the presidential campaign has turned to terrorism after the terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California and what many see as the Obama Administration’s ineffectual response to the war on terror.  Polls show anti-Muslim sentiment on the rise in the United States as a result of the attacks.  Trump’s Republican rivals many condemned his proposal as have other leading Republicans such as former Vice President Cheney. Florida Congressman David Jolly, a candidate for the United States Senate has called for Trump to withdraw from the presidential race because of his stand.  Pundits believe that this stunt will cost both Trump and the Republican Party.So what should the Republican message be in response to Donald Trump?

1. Condemn him and his antics once and for all as having no place within the Republican Party. They have become a distraction from serious issues facing the nation.
2. Refuse to let him participate in the debates. One of the sources of Trump’s success is his access to free media especially the debates.
3. Have House Speaker Paul Ryan address the nation on the Republican position on the war against terror.
   1. Ryan should point out we are not at war against Muslims but radical Islam in the form of ISIS. In doing so, he should point out how during the Cold War, every President from Truman to Reagan made the point that it was the Soviet system of government not the Russian people that were opposed too.  In World War II, Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Dwight Eisenhower made it clear that it was the Axis leadership not the peoples of Japan, Germany, and Italy.
   2. That discriminating against any religion or ethnicity is wrong and goes against not only the values of America but that upon which the Party of Abraham Lincoln was founded.
   3. Explain that this is a war and there will be civilian casualties. It can’t be fought by words but by strong actions and define how Republicans if elected will differ from both Donald Trump and President Obama in prosecuting and winning the war.
   4. Arrange for Republican leaders and figures from the Reagan and the two Bush Administrations along with Tea Party leaders to address the Trump issue and state that his words are an insult to the memory of Ronald Reagan and if Reagan was alive today he would denounce Trump.
   5. Dare Donald Trump to run as an independent if he wants too but let him and the American people know there is no room for him in the Republican Party.
   6. Use humor to belittle him not his followers.

Donald Trump is a showman and also a bully.  In some ways he is reminiscent of Joe McCarthy.  Attacking him as Republicans have done by treating him as an equal and with seriousness has failed.  Rather they should take a page out of their two greatest post-war Presidents – Eisenhower and Reagan.  Isolate Trump and use humor at his expense, in doing that and the above mentioned strategy, Trumpamania will disappear and Republicans will be stronger with America at large and it will be their Sister Soulja moment.[author] About the Author:  David E. Johnson is the CEO of Strategic Vision PR Group, a public relations and branding agency that specializes in crisis communications, branding, and media relations.  Additional information on Johnson and Strategic Vision, LLC may be obtained at www.strategicvision.biz.[/author]