The Conservative Case for Trump by Phyllis Schlafly Summary

The Conservative Case for Trump by Phyllis Schlafly presents a conservative argument supporting Donald Trump's 2016 presidential candidacy. Published in 2016, this book represents Schlafly's final work before her death at age 92, making the case that Trump aligned with grassroots conservative values. The book draws on Schlafly's decades of conservative activism and political experience to defend Trump's candidacy from a traditionalist perspective.

Phyllis Schlafly was a prominent conservative activist, lawyer, and writer who became a leading voice in American conservatism for over 60 years. Born in 1924, she gained national prominence with her 1964 bestseller A Choice Not an Echo and successfully led the campaign against the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. She founded the Eagle Forum in 1972 and authored or co-authored 27 books on conservative politics, national defense, and traditional family values.

The Conservative Case for Trump appeals to readers interested in understanding conservative perspectives on Trump's candidacy, particularly those examining the intersection of traditional conservatism and populist politics. The book suits political historians studying the 2016 election, conservatives seeking intellectual frameworks for Trump's platform, and anyone exploring Phyllis Schlafly's legacy as a grassroots conservative organizer. Readers interested in Republican Party dynamics and conservative movement evolution will find valuable insights.

The Conservative Case for Trump offers historical value as the final work of one of conservatism's most influential figures, providing insight into how traditional conservatives reconciled their principles with Trump's candidacy. For readers studying the 2016 election, conservative intellectual history, or Phyllis Schlafly's six-decade career in grassroots activism, the book presents a significant perspective. However, its relevance depends on your interest in conservative political thought and election analysis.

The Conservative Case for Trump was published in 2016, making it Phyllis Schlafly's final book before her death on September 5, 2016, at age 92. What makes this work particularly unique is its timing—Schlafly completed it just months before passing away from cancer, representing her last political statement after six decades of conservative activism. The book serves as both a campaign document and a capstone to her influential career that began with A Choice Not an Echo in 1964.

Based on Phyllis Schlafly's established conservative philosophy, The Conservative Case for Trump likely emphasizes principles she championed throughout her career:

• opposition to globalist elites
• support for grassroots conservatism
• strong national defense
• traditional American values

Schlafly historically opposed what she called "Eastern elites" within the Republican Party and advocated for candidates who represented ordinary Americans. Her support for Trump aligned with her decades-long advocacy for conservative populism over establishment politics.

The Conservative Case for Trump follows similar themes to Schlafly's groundbreaking 1964 work A Choice Not an Echo, which sold three million copies and helped Barry Goldwater secure the Republican nomination. Both books criticize Republican establishment elites and advocate for grassroots conservative candidates who challenge party insiders. While A Choice Not an Echo targeted "Rockefeller Republicans" and northeastern elites, The Conservative Case for Trump applies these same anti-establishment arguments to defend Trump's outsider candidacy against traditional Republican opposition.

Phyllis Schlafly brought extraordinary political credentials to The Conservative Case for Trump, including founding the Eagle Forum in 1972, defeating the Equal Rights Amendment through grassroots mobilization, and authoring 26 previous books on conservative politics.

• She earned degrees from Washington University, Radcliffe College, and Washington University Law School
• She ran for Congress in 1952
• She served as president of the Illinois Federation of Republican Women
• She published The Phyllis Schlafly Report newsletter for over four decades

Phyllis Schlafly supported Donald Trump because she saw him as representing the same grassroots conservative revolt against Republican establishment elites that she championed since 1964. Throughout her career, Schlafly opposed what she viewed as corrupt, globalist northeastern elites controlling the Republican Party nomination process. Trump's outsider status, nationalist rhetoric, and opposition to establishment Republicans aligned with Schlafly's longstanding belief that grassroots conservatives deserved authentic representation rather than choices dictated by party insiders.

Critics questioned how Phyllis Schlafly reconciled traditional conservative principles with Trump's personal history and unconventional political positions, particularly given her lifetime advocacy for traditional family values and Christian morality. Some argued the book represented an ironic parallel to criticisms Schlafly faced throughout her career—opponents had noted the contradiction between her anti-feminist stance and her active professional career. The book's release during the contentious 2016 campaign made it controversial among conservatives who opposed Trump's nomination.

Understanding Phyllis Schlafly's legacy as the "godmother of grassroots conservatism" who mobilized ordinary Americans for over 60 years provides essential context for The Conservative Case for Trump. Her successful defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment demonstrated her ability to organize effective opposition to establishment consensus. Schlafly's consistent pattern of supporting outsider conservative candidates—from Barry Goldwater in 1964 to Donald Trump in 2016—reveals The Conservative Case for Trump as the culmination of her lifelong anti-establishment conservative philosophy.

The Conservative Case for Trump remains relevant in 2025 as a historical document capturing how traditional conservative activists navigated Trump's rise and as insight into the ongoing tension between establishment and populist wings of Republican politics. The book preserves Phyllis Schlafly's perspective on conservatism's evolution and provides context for understanding current debates about the Republican Party's direction. For scholars studying the transformation of American conservatism and the 2016 election's lasting impact, Schlafly's final work offers valuable primary source material.