The Republicans Running To Support Donald Trump
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Across the country, candidates who support Donald Trumps false claims about the 2020 election are running for office, promising to replace fellow-Republicans who went along with certifying last years results. Republicans are favored to take back both houses of Congress in 2022 and tighten their grip on state houses, raising urgent questions about whether the Party, which largely proved unwilling to support Donald Trumps push to overturn the election last year, might be more amenable to doing so in 2024.
One of those candidates is Don Bolduc, a retired Army general and the only Republican who has declared his candidacy for next years U.S. Senate race in New Hampshire against the Democratic incumbent, Maggie Hassan. Establishment Republicans in Washington are hoping that New Hampshires governor, Chris Sununu, will also challenge Hassan, in part because Bolduc has firmly attached himself to Trump, praising the former President frequently and signing a letter with other former military leaders claiming election fraud. Trump has not yet endorsed a candidate in the race, but he recently released a statement praising Bolducs attacks on General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Trump and Biden.
What is it that you want to bring to the Senate?
This reminds me a little bit of former President Trump. Can you talk about his appeal?
The Vice President?
Astonishing.
I agree with you a hundred per cent.
Question5 Is Your Opinion Of Donald Trump Favorable Unfavorable Or Haven’t You Heard Enough About Him
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes NoFavorable 39% 86% 3% 38% 43% 35% 32% 55%Unfavorable 52 10 91 49 46 57 63 35Hvn't hrd enough 5 2 4 6 5 4 2 4REFUSED 5 2 1 7 5 4 4 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk HspFavorable 26% 41% 45% 47% 52% 42% 47% 7% 38%Unfavorable 55 53 48 49 38 51 45 83 49Hvn't hrd enough 10 3 3 1 3 4 3 5 9REFUSED 8 4 4 2 6 3 5 5 4
Would Trumps Support Change If He Were Charged With A Crime
The former president faces a handful of investigations, including from the Department of Justice and the U.S. House select committee on the origins of the Jan. 6 attack, a grand jury looking into potential election interference in Georgia and, most recently, an FBI probe into classified materials removed from the White House and kept at Trumps Florida estate. Some had been recovered or returned earlier this year. But when the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago last month, agents still found more than 100 classified documents and 43 empty folders with classified markings, among thousands of other official records, according to a Department of Justice list of items.
Support for Trumps candidacy in 2024 would not change much if any of these investigations result in Trump being charged with a crime, according to this poll. Sixty-five percent of Americans would oppose another run for the White House. More than six in 10 Republicans would still want to see him launch a campaign. Meanwhile, 73 percent of independents say he should not run again if he is charged.
WATCH:Legal implications of decision to appoint special master to review Trump documents
This poll is just a snapshot of the current political environment. With two months until the midterm elections and another two years until the 2024 presidential election, a lot can still change with the Republican primary field and the investigations.
Graphic by Megan McGrew
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The Former President Remains A Potent Force In Republican Politics
- Losing Support: Nearly half of G.O.P. voters prefer someone other than Donald J. Trump for president in 2024, a Times/Siena College poll showed.
- Trump-Pence Split: An emerging rivalry between Mr. Trump and Mike Pence, his former vice president, reveals Republicans enduring divisions.
For Mr. Trump, bleeding that amount of Republican support would represent a sharp increase compared with the already troubling level of the partys vote he shed during his last race.
In 2020, 9 percent of Republicans voted for someone other than Mr. Trump, while Mr. Biden lost just 4 percent of Democrats, according to AP VoteCast, a large study of the 2020 electorate by NORC at the University of Chicago for The Associated Press.
Kenneth Abreu, a 62-year-old pharmaceutical executive from Pennsylvania, said he had voted Republican for three decades but would support Mr. Biden instead of voting again for Mr. Trump.
Unlike all these other people who believe every word he says, Im done, Mr. Abreu said. All the garbage hes been talking about, the lies, Jan. 6, the whole thing I just lost all respect for him.
How Times reporters cover politics. We rely on our journalists to be independent observers. So while Times staff members may vote, they are not allowed to endorse or campaign for candidates or political causes. This includes participating in marches or rallies in support of a movement or giving money to, or raising money for, any political candidate or election cause.
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Rep. Don Bacon , who has previously said he wont support Trump if he runs again, publicly told reporters that he hopes former Vice President Mike Pence runs for president after he met with the Republican Study Committee this week.
Above Stefanik in House GOP leadership, its all about the midterms. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy whos had his own challenging moments with Trump and Minority Whip Steve Scalise argued that their focus is on November. Asked about endorsing Trump above all others, McCarthy chuckled at the question, then said Im focused on this election.
Lets get through November. Im sure therell be a lot of talk about 2024 right after that, echoed Scalise.
Others, like Rep. Drew Ferguson , wouldnt engage with the question until Trump makes his bid official, despite the myriad reports suggesting Trump may soon make his move.
I have not heard anything about him, Ferguson said.
Reminded that Trump is openly entertaining the idea in interviews, Ferguson, who is making an early bid for the majority whip role next year, replied: Lets see what happens.
Some senior Republicans indicated that the political landscape could be vastly different by the time the race comes around: Trumps influence may have waned further. He may be kneecapped by a series of blownmidterm endorsements, a record hes catered to more carefully in recent months as he tries to present his win-loss record in a positive light.
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‘the Silence Is Deafening’
A person close to some of the biggest real estate executives in New York who backed Trump during both of his runs for the White House said this time is different. Their view is he’s taken “major hits” during the Jan. 6 hearings. None from that group are coming to defend him, at least for now.
“The silence is deafening,” this person added.
The lack of interest in Trump by some of the wealthiest Republican donors could boost fundraising efforts for other GOP presidential hopefuls. Multiple Republicans could run in 2024, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. Scott is up for reelection in 2022 but recently headlined an event in Iowa, a key state for candidates running for president. Cotton reportedly has huddled with donors to discuss a possible 2024 run.
The former president has not publicly ruled out running for the White House again in two years after losing to President Joe Biden in 2020. Despite a lack of support from corporate leaders, Trump has maintained a massive campaign war chest thanks largely to small-dollar donors.
Question2 Do You Approve Or Disapprove Of The Way The Republicans In Congress Are Handling Their Job
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes NoApprove 23% 51% 6% 22% 24% 23% 18% 30%Disapprove 65 44 90 65 63 67 74 59DK/NA 12 5 4 14 13 11 8 11 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk HspApprove 20% 20% 27% 28% 27% 25% 26% 15% 24%Disapprove 58 69 66 66 62 65 64 76 62DK/NA 22 11 7 6 11 10 11 9 13
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How Can Trump Still Get Support
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After watching the hearings held by the U.S. House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, I am still amazed at the number of Trumpers who believe in the Big Lie. Especially after the testimony of White House insiders who told then-President Donald Trump that the 2020 election was honest and fair.
I believe that Trump should be indicted for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. The breach of the Capitol building and injuries to law enforcement officers there represent a threat to the democracy of this country.
Trump is the only president who tried to stop the peaceful transition of the presidency to his successor. Plain and simple, Trump lost the national popular vote in 2020 by more than 7 million votes. Now he is telling people who to vote for. Why would you listen to a loser?
Some Trumpers say Biden is maintaining the price of gas so that everyone buys an electric car. This may be the dumbest statement I have ever heard. Others ask how many people died of COVID-19 under President Joe Biden. A better question, in my view, is how many of those deaths were among Republicans who refused to get vaccinated. Some carry a gun for protection, but refuse to get vaccinated to protect themselves and others around them.
If Trumps hand-picked candidates win in Pennsylvania, you had better enjoy your freedom while you can.
Donald Bell
Question21 As You May Know A Special Congressional Committee Is Investigating The Storming Of The Us Capitol That Occurred On January 6th And It Has Issued Several Subpoenas To Witnesses As Part Of Its Investigation Do You Want To Hear More Information About What Led To The Events Of That Day Or Do You Think Enough Is Already Known About What Led To The Events Of That Day
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes NoWant to hear more 40% 22% 59% 38% 38% 42% 57% 36%Enough already known 56 74 38 58 58 54 41 59DK/NA 4 3 3 4 4 5 3 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk HspWant to hear more 40% 37% 41% 42% 41% 45% 43% 34% 33%Enough already known 57 57 54 56 54 52 53 61 63DK/NA 3 6 5 2 5 3 4 5 5
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Barr: Trump Using ‘extortion’ To Control Gop
Former Attorney General William Barr said that former President Donald Trump was resorting to extortion to continue to exert influence over the Republican Party, and said he still hasnt decided what to make of the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago and the governments recovery of hundreds of pages of classified documents.
In a lengthy interview published Thursday, former New York Times editor Bari Weiss asked Barr why more Republicans did not simply come out and say that Trumps claims that election fraud had prevented him from winning the 2020 election were, to use Barr’s previous word, bullshit.
The tactic that Trump is using to exert this control over the Republican Party is extortion, Barr said of his former boss. What other great leader has done this? Telling the party, If its not me, Im going to ruin your election chances by telling my base to sit home. And Ill sabotage whoever you nominate other than me. It shows what hes all about. Hes all about himself.
Barr recounted Trump’s fury on Dec. 1, 2020, when he learned that his attorney general had given an interview to the Associated Press and told them there was no evidence of widespread election fraud. Trump exploded at Barr over the interview, a clash that reportedly led Barr to tender his resignation on the spot before being convinced by White House counsel Pat Cipollone to wait to announce his departure.
The riot, Barr said, was a shameful episode. … And the president certainly precipitated it.
For Your Brief Encounters: Football Has Begun
Americas No. 1 sport got underway Thursday, with the first preseason game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders broadcast nationally on NBC.
And despite it being a completely meaningless affair, more than 5 million people tuned in. That is a small audience given how many people watch regular season games. But in a sign of how strong a brand the NFL is, the game was by far the highest rated show of the night.
Just remember: The preseason doesnt matter. The last two teams to lose every single regular season game in a season won every game that preseason.
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Why They Still Support Trump
What began as a reluctant willingness to defend the former president soon became an ingrained habit.
About the author: Peter Wehner is a contributing writer at The Atlantic, a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum, and the author of The Death of Politics: How to Heal Our Frayed Republic After Trump.
The seven public hearings by the House committee investigating the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, have made the task of dot connecting easy: Americas 45th president oversaw and directed a multipart plan to violently overturn the 2020 election. Texts and testimonies of those in Donald Trumps inner orbit have shattered every excuse that the former presidents supporters had publicly broadcast since that awful, searing day.
Which raises an important and intriguing question: How are those supporters responding now?
It depends on the Trump supporter, of course. For some right-wing zealots, who have an enormous stake in keeping the Big Lie alive, the reflex is to attack the committee as crazed and media-enabled and abusing Constitutional rights. For those somewhat less delirious, the reaction is to mock and dismiss committee members, most especially Representative Liz Cheney. Still others have avoided watching the January 6 hearings. They have other, more important things to do, as one person put it to me. Hear no evil, see no evil.
Why?
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Actions While In Office
President Trump advocated repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act . The Republican-controlled House passed the American Health Care Act in May 2017, handing it to the Senate, which decided to write its own version of the bill rather than voting on the AHCA. The Senate bill, called the “Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017” , failed on a vote of 45â55 in the Senate during July 2017. Other variations also failed to gather the required support, facing unanimous Democratic Party opposition and some Republican opposition. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the bills would increase the number of uninsured by over 20 million persons, while reducing the budget deficit marginally.
Actions to hinder implementation of ACA
President Trump continued Republican attacks on the ACA while in office, including steps such as:
Ending cost-sharing reduction payments
President Trump’s argument that the CSR payments were a “bailout” for insurance companies and therefore should be stopped, actually results in the government paying more to insurance companies due to increases in the premium tax credit subsidies. Journalist Sarah Kliff therefore described Trump’s argument as “completely incoherent.”
Political Positions Of Donald Trump
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The political positions of Donald Trump , the 45th president of the United States, have frequentlychanged. Trump is primarily a populist, protectionist, isolationist, and nationalist.
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As Described By Others
Trump’s political positions are viewed by some as populist. Politicians and pundits alike have referred to Trump’s populism, anti-free trade, and anti-immigrant stances as “Trumpism”.
Liberal economist and columnist Paul Krugman disputes that Trump is a populist, arguing that his policies favor the rich over those less well off.Harvard Kennedy School political scientist Pippa Norris has described Trump as a “populist authoritarian” analogous to European parties such as the Swiss People’s Party, Austrian Freedom Party, Swedish Democrats, and Danish People’s Party. Columnist Walter Shapiro and political commentator Jonathan Chait describe Trump as . Conservative commentator characterized Trump as a “casual authoritarian,” saying “he is a candidate who has happily and proudly spurned the entire idea of limits on his power as an executive and doesn’t have any interest in the Constitution and what it allows him to do and what does not allow him to do. That is concerning for people who are interested in limited government.”Charles C. W. Cooke of the National Review has expressed similar views, terming Trump an “anti-constitutional authoritarian.”Libertarian journalist Nick Gillespie, by contrast, calls Trump “populist rather than an authoritarian”.Rich Benjamin refers to Trump and his ideology as fascist and a form of inverted totalitarianism.
