Full Breakdown
Gerard Baker’s Latest Column Signals a Shift in Trump Critique
By Drooid · · How we work
Baker’s Recent Column and Its Tone
He catalogued grievances including Trump’s tariff focus, indifference to public finances, the war with Iran, and personal enrichment. The column marks a stark departure from Baker’s earlier willingness to endorse Trump as a disruptive force.
Baker’s Professional Background and Earlier Support for Trump
Baker spent three decades in journalism, holding senior roles at the *Financial Times*, *The Times* of London, and the BBC before serving as editor-in-chief of *The Wall Street Journal* (2013-2018) and later as editor-at-large. He has described himself as a “right-wing curmudgeon” after shifting from left-wing politics in university. According to the Daily Kos commentary, Baker initially viewed Trump as a necessary disruptor, arguing that the potential upside of political upheaval outweighed the risks, even after the events of January 6.
Progression of Baker’s Views on Trump’s Presidency
Earlier in the year, Baker published a column questioning the “pragmatic” nature of Trump’s first term, labeling it as such sarcastically. He later criticized the abandonment of that pragmatism, condemned the Iran conflict as poorly planned and executed, and accused Trump of undermining his own policy goals through ineffective communication. On the podcast *The State of It: USA*, Baker called the oath-taking of Trump supporters “a cult.” The latest column extends this trajectory, framing his growing disdain as a self-diagnosed “Trump derangement syndrome.”
Implications for Conservative Commentary
Baker’s shift illustrates how some institutional conservatives, once willing to rationalize Trump’s liabilities for perceived policy gains, are now openly questioning whether the political results justify those liabilities. The commentary suggests that such criticism from a long-standing media figure could signal broader reevaluations within the conservative establishment, potentially influencing how future Republican strategies are debated in opinion outlets.