--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Donald Trump actually is a pretty…" description: "\"Donald Trump actually is a pretty big-government conservative. He doesn't see eye-to-eye with them [the Kochs] on trade.\" — Jane Mayer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c48/jane-mayer-1031_big-government_donald-trump-actually-is-a-pretty-big-go_2460078.png" --- # Donald Trump actually is a pretty big-government… ![“Donald Trump actually is a pretty big-government conservative. He doesn't see eye-to-eye with them [the Kochs] on trade.” quote by Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c48/jane-mayer-1031_big-government_donald-trump-actually-is-a-pretty-big-go_2460078.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c48/jane-mayer-1031_big-government_donald-trump-actually-is-a-pretty-big-go_2460078.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c48/jane-mayer-1031_big-government_donald-trump-actually-is-a-pretty-big-go_2460078.png) > “Donald Trump actually is a pretty big-government conservative. He doesn't see eye-to-eye with them \[the Kochs\] on trade.” [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Trump’s protectionist stance aligns with big‑government conservatism, conflicting with typical free‑market conservatives. **In simple terms:** Trump mixes protectionism with conservatism. Key Takeaway Recognize nuanced political positions. Themes politics conservatism trade Mood analytical critical Type political commentary analysis When to use this quote - policy debates - voter education - campaign strategy Key Concepts protectionism ideological nuance Questions to Reflect On - How do you define true conservatism? - What impact does trade policy have on voters? A Different Perspective Some view his stance as strategic, not ideological. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-government/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Conservative Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative-doesn-646768/) [Donald trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/donald-trump/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-conservative-646767/) [Kochs Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kochs-trade-646769/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a weensy-government conservative from the Midwest, Christian, mother of two, homeschooler, and my hobby, profession, and passion is news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-loesch/i-m-a-weensy-government-conservative-from-the-midwest-christian/) [Dana Loesch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-loesch/) > [A conservative doesn't want anything to happen for the first time; a liberal feels it should happen, but not now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/a-conservative-doesn-t-want-anything-to-happen-for-the-first-time-a/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [I'm a constitutional conservative. I'm a Reagan constitutional conservative. I can think of no three better words to describe my political philosophy. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/i-m-a-constitutional-conservative-i-m-a-reagan-constitutional/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [I'm a small government conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/i-m-a-small-government-conservative/) [Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/) > [In all those things which deal with people, be liberal, be human. In all those things which deal with the people's money or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/in-all-those-things-which-deal-with-people-be-liberal-be-human-in-all/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Whether you're a populist; whether you're a limited government conservative; whether you're libertarian; whether you're an economic nationalist - we have wide and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-k-bannon/whether-you-re-a-populist-whether-you-re-a-limited-government/) [Stephen K. Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-k-bannon/) > [If you're a limited government conservative, I feel your pain. Your man Mr. Bush has exploded the size of government, ballooned the deficit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/if-you-re-a-limited-government-conservative-i-feel-your-pain-your-man/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [9/11 conspiracy theorist are probably anti-government Conservative...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/9-11-conspiracy-theorist-are-probably-anti-government-conservative/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ted Cruz is a small-government conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-liasson/ted-cruz-is-a-small-government-conservative/) [Mara Liasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-liasson/) > [ \[The Kochs\] they hate big government. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/the-kochs-they-hate-big-government/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [America's Christian conservative movement is confronted with this divide: small-government advocates who want to practice their faith independent of heavy-handed government versus big-government sympathizers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/america-s-christian-conservative-movement-is-confronted-with-this/) [Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/) > [Donald Trump is not ideological. Now, to me, that means more than he's not just conservative or liberal. He knows what both things are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-not-ideological-now-to-me-that-means-more-than-he-s/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think Donald Trump is a conservative. I think his line on China for example, that he's going to talk tough to China.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/i-don-t-think-donald-trump-is-a-conservative-i-think-his-line-on/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [The other theory of the case - and it's not just one that people opposed to him politically believe, but also people who share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/the-other-theory-of-the-case-and-it-s-not-just-one-that-people/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [Big-government proponents embrace both the power of the federal government and the idea that millions of Americans ought to be dependent on its largesse.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/big-government-proponents-embrace-both-the-power-of-the-federal/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) ## More by Jane Mayer > [“David Brock, a conservative apostate who became a liberal activist, described the Heritage Foundation, where he was a young fellow, as almost completely under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/david-brock-a-conservative-apostate-who-became-a-liberal-activist/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“The early think tank was not a spy operation, but it was funded by wealthy men who had no objections to using pretexts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/the-early-think-tank-was-not-a-spy-operation-but-it-was-funded-by/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“Americans for Prosperity annoyed some of the Tea Partiers,” recalls the libertarian blogger Ralph Benko. “These people drove up, opened the door, put T-shirts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/americans-for-prosperity-annoyed-some-of-the-tea-partiers-recalls-the/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“When Barack Obama took office, the fossil fuel industry was not only eager to preserve its perks but also more militant in its opposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/when-barack-obama-took-office-the-fossil-fuel-industry-was-not-only/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [If you have an informed electorate, it makes great choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/if-you-have-an-informed-electorate-it-makes-great-choices/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [ One of the oddities of this election is the man that \[Donald\] Trump chose as his vice-president, Mike Pence, is one of the Kochs'… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/one-of-the-oddities-of-this-election-is-the-man-that-donald-trump/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“The candidates promised to cut taxes for those in the highest brackets, preserve Wall Street loopholes, tolerate the off-shoring of manufacturing jobs and profits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/the-candidates-promised-to-cut-taxes-for-those-in-the-highest/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“Amway in fact was structured to avoid federal taxes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/amway-in-fact-was-structured-to-avoid-federal-taxes/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“radicals in Congress refused to back down, bringing virtually the entire federal government to a halt for sixteen days in October, leaving the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/radicals-in-congress-refused-to-back-down-bringing-virtually-the/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [What I write about is how much influence it's had in things like state legislatures and governorships and congressional races. The other thing that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/what-i-write-about-is-how-much-influence-it-s-had-in-things-like/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“Two months into their tenure, Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee also led a crusade against alternative, renewable energy programs. They successfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/two-months-into-their-tenure-republicans-on-the-house-energy-and/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [ \[The Kochs\] they hate big government. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/the-kochs-they-hate-big-government/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“Rob Reich, a professor of political science at Stanford University and co-director of the Stanford Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society, explains that private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/rob-reich-a-professor-of-political-science-at-stanford-university-and/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“During the previous eight years of Republican rule, this conservative corporate elite had consolidated its power, amassing enormous sway over the U.S. government’s regulatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/during-the-previous-eight-years-of-republican-rule-this-conservative/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“Noble again chose Larry McCarthy, the veteran media consultant who was known for his ability to distill a complicated subject into a simple, potent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/noble-again-chose-larry-mccarthy-the-veteran-media-consultant-who-was/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) [Explore all 305 Jane Mayer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) ## More Big government quotes > [Big-government proponents embrace both the power of the federal government and the idea that millions of Americans ought to be dependent on its largesse.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/big-government-proponents-embrace-both-the-power-of-the-federal/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [Let's face a historical truth: we have never had a "free market", we have always had government intervention in the economy, and indeed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/let-s-face-a-historical-truth-we-have-never-had-a-free-market-we-have/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Pure, hard-core liberals believe in a superior race. They think they're it. They believe they're more intelligent than the general run of mankind, better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/pure-hard-core-liberals-believe-in-a-superior-race-they-think-they-re/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [I think part of the reason the Tea Party has resonated is that people feel disempowered. The Tea Party says, "You are out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zephyr-teachout/i-think-part-of-the-reason-the-tea-party-has-resonated-is-that-people/) [Zephyr Teachout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zephyr-teachout/) > [Big government helps the people who have made it. It doesn't help the people who are trying to make it; it crushes the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/big-government-helps-the-people-who-have-made-it-it-doesn-t-help-the/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Hillary Clinton: putting big government spending financed by the Chinese ahead of good-paying jobs for middle-class Americans. Is she guilty or not guilty?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/hillary-clinton-putting-big-government-spending-financed-by-the/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I'm not a big government guy. I believe in private industries taking care of people. I think they do a better job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-baio/i-m-not-a-big-government-guy-i-believe-in-private-industries-taking/) [Scott Baio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-baio/) > [Americans must either choose big government and be willing to pay for and submit to it, or they must move toward smaller, less intrusive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/americans-must-either-choose-big-government-and-be-willing-to-pay-for/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [What do intellectuals and opinion makers get from big government? An increasing number of cushy jobs in the bureaucracy, or in the government-subsidized sector,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/what-do-intellectuals-and-opinion-makers-get-from-big-government-an/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [America's Christian conservative movement is confronted with this divide: small-government advocates who want to practice their faith independent of heavy-handed government versus big-government sympathizers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/america-s-christian-conservative-movement-is-confronted-with-this/) [Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/) > [Vietnam should remind conservatives that whenever you put your faith in big government for any reason, sooner or later you wind up an apologist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-hess/vietnam-should-remind-conservatives-that-whenever-you-put-your-faith/) [Karl Hess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-hess/) > [“Funding for the Special Operations Network comes directly from the government. Most work is centralized, but all of the SpecOps divisions have local representatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/funding-for-the-special-operations-network-comes-directly-from-the/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [Offering 'comprehensive' reform usually means years of arguing and horse-trading among pressure groups to get anything done. By the time all the special interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-davis-hanson/offering-comprehensive-reform-usually-means-years-of-arguing-and/) [Victor Davis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-davis-hanson/) > [Unfortunately, President Obama's failed policies of new regulations, higher taxes, and Obamacare and his anti-business rhetoric have hit Hispanics especially hard. Big government really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/unfortunately-president-obama-s-failed-policies-of-new-regulations/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [The press is hostile to the idea of liberty. Most people in the press are for big government. Most people think that the solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-press-is-hostile-to-the-idea-of-liberty-most-people-in-the-press/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) [Browse all 245 Big government quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-government/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Donald Trump actually is a pretty big-government conservative. 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