The ongoing intraparty feud in the GOP is, unfortunately, self-inflicted. Establishment Republicans allowed right-wing extremists to hijack the party. The success of insurgent groups such as the tea party movement at the ballot box frightened moderate Republican legislators into submission. They abdicated their duties and embraced the politics of obstruction and extremism in order to retain their seats.

However, the resulting lack of bilateral compromise caused a government shutdown, immigration limbo and gridlock. Failure to pass laws means failure to satisfy the needs of the people.

It is manifestly true that the American people are fed up with do-nothing career politicians. Republican conservatism has become synonymous with xenophobia, intolerance and sometimes outright discrimination. As establishment Republicans receded, brash, blustering demagogues swiftly moved in with their divisive and inflammatory rhetoric. Donald Trump took it to the extreme by promising a mass deportation of illegal aliens, a travel ban on Muslims, and construction of a wall on our southern border paid for by Mexico. In spite of his name-calling and vitriolic rhetoric, Trump remains the presumptive Republican front-runner.

Here’s the thing: The American people aren’t perturbed about his divisive rhetoric, but they are horrified that his message is resonating with some segments of society. As a shrewd politician, he plays to their anger and frustration by promising to make America great again. He says this to arouse right-wing extremists. His message is as Machiavellian as one can get.

Donald Trump is a runaway Republican freight train that is about to go off the tracks.

Godfrey Akpan

Ogden