“What exactly makes Trump “conservative”?”
Good question.
And by the way, I’m not surprised people ask it.
1) Trump didn’t have a long political “record” like most life long politicians.
2) As a businessman, particularly in real estate development, he was often called upon to to schmooze, litigate, advise, and/or grease the palms of politicians.
3) As a billionaire and a TV personality he was a celebrity, and thus a target rich host for the parasitic media.
4) As a white privileged, male, one percenter, running as a Republican after the Bushes and Romney, Trump had a toxic “meme” to distance himself from.
5) Trump is a doer more than a talker. He is pragmatic more than philosophic. He doesn’t speak in terms of academic principles.
No wonder his political philosophy is somewhat obscured.
Beyond the particulars of Trump, there is the leftist proclivity to lie about themselves and their enemies. The entire leftist, Marxist agenda of wealth redistribution is based on lies. Lies about what is fair, what is equality, what is cause, what is effect, what are the problems, what are the solutions, and what has transpired, who is to blame.
But to answer your question....,
...pre-Trump, my measuring stick for “conservatism” used to be who promised to cut government spending and taxes, and get government off our backs. Reagan seemed sincere... but I think we’ve been played. Not Reagan’s fault, but he wasn’t allowed to reduce taxes unless he could “pay for the tax cuts”. Typical tortured leftist logic enforced by the fake news. But it worked. The government grew as much under republican administrations as under democrat administrations.
Post Trump, my measuring stick is a little different. It has to do with willingness to fight and call out evil for what it is. Trump has picked a fight with the media and the left, “the swamp”. No other president has dared to do that in modern times.
I don’t know how it will turn out, but this is a fight that must not be avoided out of political correctness if we are to shrink the government (which is the essence of conservatism). Trump is conservative because he is willing to fight this political correctness fight. They call him all manner of disgusting names and he doesn’t quit.
If he quits fighting, as some keep predicting, then you’re right - he’s not a conservative. But if he hangs in and faces down the left and the media - the way I think he will - I can’t imagine anything more “conservative”.
He’s got to drain the swamp to be a true conservative. Maybe he won’t succeed, but we’ve never seen anyone try like this.
So basically he’s a “conservative” because he’s not politically correct and ... and, that’s it. Next question: HOW is he draining the swamp? Yea he’s fired a few, but they’re the very same establishment RINO hacks HE hired in the first place. His entire Cabinet consists of swamp dwellers (and very left-leaning folk, like McMaster and Mattis. And let’s not pretend Ivanka and Jared don’t have a huge influence).