When President Donald Trump publicly chastised Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — a lawmaker who has been one of his fiercest and most loyal defenders — it raised eyebrows across the political world. Greene is no fringe admirer. She has been an unwavering ally, a constant amplifier of Trump's agenda, and one of his most dependable loyalists on Capitol Hill. Trump taking aim at someone who has carried his banner so faithfully is not just surprising — it's revealing.

The Republican Party under Trump has always been a coalition held together by energy, grievance and a sense of shared purpose. But coalitions — even fearsome ones — require space for internal disagreement. They require room for ideological variance, strategic differences and the occasional intraparty critique. Without that space, a movement begins to cannibalize its own allies, mistaking loyalty for uniformity and criticism for betrayal.

That is the danger Republicans now face.

Greene is not above criticism — no elected official is — but Trump's instinct to swat down dissent, rather than engage it, risks weakening the very movement he leads. Loyalty can be a powerful political glue, but when it becomes the only acceptable currency, leaders often find themselves surrounded not by allies but by sycophants afraid to say what needs to be said.

The warning lights here are bright.

If the Republican Party becomes a place where even its most vocal supporters fear diverging from the president on strategy, policy or political direction, then it will slowly constrict its own capacity for growth. You cannot build a lasting governing coalition — one capable of winning swing states, persuading independents, or broadening its demographic appeal — if the internal expectation is ideological lockstep and zero deviation.

A political movement that cannot police itself with honesty eventually becomes one that cannot compete.

There is also a deeper strategic issue. Disagreement, when handled well, strengthens a movement. It forces reflection. It sharpens arguments. It prevents blind spots. In a party that is trying to build a durable "America First" agenda with real policy depth, suppressing dissent is a recipe for stagnation. Trump's greatest strength has always been his ability to break political orthodoxies; he should not now create a new orthodoxy that is just as brittle as the one he once shattered.

Republicans need a healthy internal dialogue, not a chorus line.

If Trump wants a party that will govern successfully — not merely idolize him — he must recognize that even loyal supporters will occasionally challenge him. And sometimes they should. A strong leader does not see disagreement as betrayal. A strong leader sees it as proof that the movement they built is maturing, thinking and preparing for the responsibilities of lasting power.

Trump and Greene may smooth things over. In politics, friendships often outlive feuds. But this moment is a reminder that the health of the Republican Party will depend on how much space it allows for differences among people who still share the same end goals.

If the GOP becomes a party where dissent is punished and loyalty is the only ideology, it will implode not because of Democrats but because of its own refusal to let its members say, "We support you, but here's where we disagree."

History is full of movements that failed because leaders mistook criticism for treason. Trump can avoid that mistake. He can keep his coalition strong. He can grow the party. But it starts with one simple principle:

A movement that demands loyalty above all else soon discovers it has fewer and fewer people left to lead.

Armstrong Williams is manager/sole owner of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and the 2016 Multicultural Media Broadcast owner of the year. To find out more about him and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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