In a significant display of former President Donald Trump's growing grasp over the Republican Party, a condensed version of the GOP platform received swift and overwhelming approval. The platform, which strays from longstanding Republican stances on subjects like abortion and same-sex marriage, was hailed by many top social conservative leaders. However, not all evangelicals were satisfied with the revised document.

Drafted by Trump and his top aides, the platform was passed by a committee dominated by Trump supporters during a closed-door meeting in Milwaukee ahead of the upcoming Republican National Convention. The vote in favor of the platform, titled "America First: A Return to Common Sense," was 84 to 18, according to an attendee.

The new platform, a mere 16 pages compared to the previous 66-page version in 2016, shows a softened standpoint on abortion. Reflecting Trump's stance, the document puts the emphasis on individual states' handling of abortion regulations. Notably, the platform does not mention a federal ban on abortion, despite Trump opposing such a ban. Instead, it focuses on opposing late-term abortions and supporting policies that aid mothers, prenatal care, access to birth control, and fertility treatments.

Support from seven prominent evangelical and anti-abortion leaders, including Ralph Reed and Marjorie Dannenfelser, was highlighted in a letter endorsed by the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee. The letter applauded Trump's commitment to protecting life and promoting the family, citing his track record of fulfilling promises during his first term. However, some voices within the evangelical community, such as Tony Perkins and Brent Leatherwood, expressed concerns that the Republican Party was moving away from its traditional goal of protecting the unborn.

The platform also diverges from previous GOP positions by abandoning opposition to same-sex marriage. On economic issues, it does not prioritize reducing the national debt but rather puts forth goals of ending inflation and making America affordable again. Another significant departure is the platform's support for tariffs, marking a break from past Republican stances on trade. Additionally, the document highlights Trump's pledge to refrain from cutting Social Security or Medicare.

Critics, including Marc Short, a former director of legislative affairs in the Trump administration, raised concerns about embracing tariffs and neglecting to address entitlement spending, arguing that these positions align more closely with the Democratic Party's principles and could hinder economic prosperity.

The platform also mirrors Trump's campaign rhetoric with calls for stricter border control and an end to the "weaponization of government against the American people."

The Biden campaign disapprovingly characterized Trump's policy platform as resembling the "screed of an unhinged and unwell conspiracy theorist who hates America and is in it for himself."

The fully revised platform is expected to be easily approved at the upcoming Republican National Convention, affirming Trump's expanding ideological influence over the GOP.