Un-American Swings: Stitt Targets Policy Flip-Flops (Image Credits: Upload.wikimedia.org)
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt shared pointed critiques of President Trump and a roadmap for the Republican Party during a recent NPR interview.[1]
Un-American Swings: Stitt Targets Policy Flip-Flops
Governor Stitt opened with a striking charge against erratic federal actions that derail long-term projects. He highlighted the Rhode Island wind farm, where developers followed all rules for eight years and reached 90% completion before the Trump administration pulled the plug.[2][1]
Stitt deemed such moves “un-American,” drawing parallels to the Keystone pipeline’s repeated cancellations under Presidents Obama and Biden. Developers eventually abandoned efforts after years of investment, he noted. The governor argued that basing project fates on political shifts undermines business confidence. Oklahoma, which delivered 66% of its votes to Trump in 2024, still suffers from these national instabilities, according to Stitt.[2]
Navigating Immigration: Beyond Border Security
Stitt endorsed a secure border and removal of criminals but questioned the feasibility of deporting every undocumented individual. He recounted conversations with Trump-supporting constituents in rural Oklahoma who rely on longtime workers in construction and farming. These employers described their employees as family members who attend church and send children to school together.[1]
Sudden removal of these workers would devastate industries, Stitt warned. He advocated issuing work permits to those already employed, allowing them to stay legally without immediate citizenship paths. States should lead immigration enforcement, he proposed, given their roles in building infrastructure and schools. Federal agents overriding state authority, as seen in Minnesota raids, raised states’ rights concerns for him.[2]
GOP’s Future: A Return to Core Principles
As chair of the bipartisan National Governors Association, Stitt pushed back when the White House initially invited only Republican governors to a meeting. He insisted on representing all 50 governors, prompting Trump to call him a “wiseguy” on social media before extending invitations more broadly.[2]
Looking beyond Trump, Stitt urged Republicans to “get back to integrity” by limiting federal overreach and avoiding politicized justice. He rejected weaponizing the Department of Justice, as occurred against Trump, while emphasizing traditional values like lower taxes and entrepreneurship. Voter ID laws already secure Oklahoma elections, he added, dismissing widespread non-citizen voting claims. The party must embrace America’s diversity to broaden appeal, Stitt concluded.[1]
Balancing Heritage and State Authority
A Cherokee Nation member, Stitt traces his roots to 19th-century tribal lists yet clashes with tribal leaders over sovereignty. Eastern Oklahoma tribes sued him in late 2025 over state wildlife enforcement on reservation lands.[2]
He opposed a 2020 Supreme Court decision expanding tribal jurisdiction, viewing it as eroding state powers established when Indian Territory became Oklahoma in 1907. These disputes echo historical tensions from the Trail of Tears era.
Key Takeaways from Stitt’s Interview:
- End policy pendulum swings that kill viable projects.
- Issue work permits for established undocumented workers to avoid economic harm.
- Restore GOP integrity through limited government and states’ rights.
Governor Stitt’s remarks signal a pragmatic conservatism that prioritizes stability over ideological extremes. As Republican leaders eye life after Trump, his voice from deep-red Oklahoma could influence the party’s evolution – what adjustments would you make to GOP priorities? Share in the comments.
