On foreign policy, Reagan believed in the importance of a strong American-led West and recognized the value of our NATO allies. He was staunchly anti-communist and determined to do everything he could not reasonably do, not only to win the battle of ideas with collectivism, but also to roll back communist rule.

No moment makes this clearer than Reagan’s speech at the Brandenburg Gate in June 1987, where he inspired freedom-loving people everywhere. with intonation: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Similarly, when Poland declared martial law in December 1981, Reagan imposed economic sanctions in response.

Domestically, Reagan was essentially a staunch believer in free market economics and free trade, although he pressured Japanese automakers to impose voluntary limits on automobile exports to that country.

“Our trade policy is based on free and open market principles” In 1985 he noted: He added that history teaches: “The freer the flow of world trade, the stronger the progress of humanity and the peace between nations.”

During the Reagan administration and for decades afterward, the Republican Party had a deep belief in the importance of presidential character and the essentiality of the rule of law.

Although Reagan often considered a violation of the party’s so-called commitment to fiscal discipline, he worked with Democratic House Speaker Tip O’Neill. He signed a deal that would put Social Security on a secure footing for decades to come.

This ethic of compromise across the aisle points to a larger truth about our 40th president: He has managed to disagree sharply without demonizing or even disliking his opponents. They fought each other on public issues, but Reagan had friendly relations with O’Neill. Although Reagan used grand speeches to win Congress Feel the warmth when they can’t see the lightIt did not aim to divide the nation in a deep and lasting way. Rather, he hoped to unite the country around his ideas and ideals.

Now consider Donald Trump and his GOP. Trump openly admires and praises autocrats such as North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, Chinese martinet Xi Jinping and Russian czar Vladimir Putin. last week that was praised Calling Xi a “great man,” he noted with admiration: “He controls 1.4 billion people with an iron fist.” it exists was praised Putin’s “genius” and “knowledgeable” military and propaganda maneuvers to invade and dismantle Ukraine.

Trump has made clear that he sees little, if any, of the intrinsic value of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Indeed, Putin and Russia can do it, he said. “Do whatever they want.” To members who fail to meet their NATO spending commitments.

On trade, Trump has become an enthusiastic protectionist and an ardent advocate of tariffs. In this campaign, he promised to impose a 60 percent tariff on Chinese goods and base tariffs of up to 20 percent on all other imports and Chinese-imposed trade taxes. Tax Policy Center estimates it will cost American households an average of $3,000 annually. Moreover, he cannot be said to respect the free market, as he has repeatedly threatened to punish American companies that move production out of this country. Rather, he envisions himself as someone who controls the levers of a politically enforced system of crony capitalism.

after that previous attempts Trump clearly has little respect for the rule of law in his repeated suggestions that he could have government agencies go after his political rivals and critics and do so again. Last tagged Seeing political opponents as “enemies within” adds another exclamation point to this reality.

Unlike Reagan, Trump makes little claim to being a unifying figure. A demagogic conservative populist, he uses resentment and division as his favorite political tools.

Where Trump can claim to be similar to Reagan is on abortion. But although Reagan opposed abortion rights, he did not make it a litmus test for Supreme Court nominees. Trump did this, and by doing this, Roe v. He made good on his promise to break Wade.

Trump’s political movement, then, is radically different from Reagan’s GOP. The name on the rust-covered hull may be USS Republican Party, but it’s a ghost ship operating under a flag of convenience. His target is not the shiny “City on a Hill” that Reagan loved to celebrate, but the dark, resentment-filled dystopia of MAGA country.

Getting there would be tragic for America.

Scot Lehigh is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. follow him @GlobeScotLehigh.