Immigration Is the Glue Holding the MAGA Coalition Together

If anyone believes that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is “just bluster,” they are deluding themselves, says Julian Zelizer .

Zelizer: Immigration is the glue holding the MAGA Coalition together.

He says immigration is the singular theme unifying his coalition and placing Democrats on the defense.

Trump has appointed Stephen Miller and Tom Homan as his deputy chief of staff.

Frida Ghitis : Anti-communism was an issue that every faction of Reagan 's coalition could support.

She says it provided Reagan with an emotional and moral rallying cry that that the president could use to scare and inspire voters with a single sentence: “ America ’s defense strength is at its lowest ebb in a generation,” she says.

Ghitis says Democrats are trying to create a new image of the party that includes tough criticism of the Soviet Union .

Julian Zelizer : Trump 's anti-immigration rhetoric is dangerous in different ways than Reagan ’s anti-communist message was.

Trump lacks the pragmatic streak that was essential part of Reagan 's character, Zelizer says.

The ideal scenario today would be some kind of deal that brought back some sort of limited path to citizenship as well.