Former Sen. Rick Santorum said Saturday that deep political divisions in the United States are unlikely to ease, arguing that ideological differences between conservatives and the political left make compromise increasingly difficult.
Speaking on Newsmax TV's "Saturday Agenda," Santorum described the current political climate as sharply polarized, with both sides holding fundamentally different visions for the country.
"And the left isn't going to tone it down. This is typical Marxism, this is what they do, and so you're not going to see a toning down," Santorum said.
"You're not going to see, 'oh, let's come together.' You can't come together if your vision for America is 180 degrees from the other people," Santorum said.
Santorum, a Republican who represented Pennsylvania in the Senate, said he believes the political left is driven by a desire to gain and maintain power, alleging that tactics used in elections and redistricting reflect that goal.
"These are means to ends people. They'll do whatever it takes to get power and to keep power," Santorum continued.
"They cheat all the time, whether it's in elections or in redistricting or in a variety of other ways," he said.
He also argued that rhetoric portraying President Donald Trump as a broad threat has contributed to heightened political tensions, suggesting that such messaging influences how some voters respond.
"When you have a base that has been told that he is a threat to them, not just to democracy, but to them, people are going to react in a very different way," Santorum said.
Santorum characterized the divide as rooted in fundamentally opposing ideologies, which he said limits the potential for political reconciliation.
"You're not going to see a toning down. You're not going to see, 'Oh, let's come together,'" he said.
His comments come as political leaders from both parties have at times called for reduced rhetoric and greater unity, particularly following high-profile incidents and during periods of heightened national tension.
Santorum acknowledged that cooperation across party lines remains possible in some areas but said it does not require agreement on broader policy goals.
"We can get along, but that doesn't necessarily mean you capitulate to what they want to do," he said.
GET TODAY NEWSMAX+:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!
Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.
You need to watch NEWSMAX today.
Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!
Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now
BEST OFFER:
Sign up for NEWSMAX+ and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.
Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.
Even get Jon Voight's special series and President Trump's comedy programs and much more!
Watch NEWSMAX+ on your smartphone or home TV app.
Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!
Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.