Old President Trump
Donald Trump, Michigan Democrat Dingell, on violent rhetoric: “I’ve had men in front of my house with assault weapons.” McConnell doesn’t rule out getting involved in Republican primaries. 75% of Republicans want Trump to play a prominent role in the GOP: MORE poll Tuesday unloaded on Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell: McConnell does not rule out getting involved in Republican primaries. McConnell defends acquittal in WSJ opinion, but exploits Trump’s “false falsehoods”, Biden promises action against guns amid resistance MORE (R-Ky.) And he pledged to support challengers to lawmakers who have crossed him.
In a statement released through his Save America super PAC, Trump blamed McConnell for the Republican Party’s 2020 Senate losses and called on Republicans to elect new leaders to continue his legacy.
“Mitch is a bleak, grumpy, non-smiling political hacker, and if Republican senators stay with him, they won’t win again,” Trump said.
“He will never do what needs to be done or what is right for our country. When necessary and timely, I will defend the main rivals advocating Making America Great Again and our America First policy. We want bright, strong, thoughtful and compassionate leadership, ”Trump said.
The statement came days after McConnell was attacked by the former president in a speech from the Senate floor after voting to acquit him on dismissal charges that prompted a crowd to attack the Capitol. Despite his vote, McConnell said Trump was the “practical and moral” responsible for the deadly siege.
McConnell also left open the possibility that Trump could face civil or criminal charges for his role in the riots, although he was acquitted by the Senate.
“The leader of the free world can’t spend weeks thundering that shadow forces rob our country and then simulate surprise,” McConnell said.
“President Trump remains responsible for everything he did while in office, as a normal citizen, unless the statute of limitations has expired …. [He] I haven’t come up with anything yet, ”McConnell added.
McConnell has said he and Trump have not spoken since mid-December, as tensions have risen over the former president’s unsubstantiated claims that the election had been stolen from him.
Statements in the Republican Party Senate leader’s impeachment trial, widely regarded as a skillful political tactic, sent a clear signal that he believes the party must forge a Trump-independent identity to remain competitive in future elections.
The bad blood between Trump and McConnell, who had a fruitful alliance while Trump held office, could foreshadow an intraparty civil war unfolding in primaries across the country as the Republican Party seeks a path to follow now that Trump is out of office.
Only seven Republican senators joined the 50 Democrats in the vote to condemn Trump, while McConnell and 42 other Republicans voted acquittal. It took a two-thirds vote to find Trump guilty.
Trump remains very popular among the popular base and has encouraged conservatives to achieve a record number.
But Democrats have also reached a record number during the Trump years, and many conventional Republicans see the former president as politically toxic with independents, moderates, women, and suburban voters needing to regain majorities in the House and Senate.
On Tuesday, Trump gave the clearest signal that he intends to exert his influence over the party by following critics.
The former president shattered McConnell, saying “the Republican Party leader’s lack of political knowledge, wisdom, skill and personality has quickly led him from a majority leader to a minority leader.”
“It will only get worse … We know our America First agenda is a winner, not McConnell’s Beltway First agenda or Biden’s America Last,” Trump said.
Trump also boasted of receiving the most votes for any incumbent president in history and claimed his presence had “saved” by itself “at least 12 seats in the Senate” throughout his term.
The former president urged Republicans to choose new leaders who were true to their party vision.
“The Republican party can never be respected or strong with political‘ leaders ’like Senator Mitch McConnell at the helm,” Trump said.
“It is destroying the Republican side of the Senate and, in doing so, it is seriously hurting our country … It does not have what it takes, it never did and never will.”
All Republican senators who voted to condemn Trump have faced Republican criticism of their states, and some face censorship resolutions from their state parties.
Meaning. Richard Burr
Richard Mauze Burr: North Carolina Republican Party Votes to Censor Burr to Vote to Condemn Trump Maine, GOP would consider censoring Collins to vote to condemn Republican Trump Iowa announces bid in Senate with Grassley plans for 2022 is still unclear MORE (RN.C.) i Bill Cassidy
Bill Cassidy: The Republican Party of North Carolina votes to censor Burr for voting to condemn Trump Maine, the GOP to consider censoring Collins for voting to condemn Trump Ex-Sen. Jeff Flake calls on the Republican party to leave Trump: “We should” condemn him MORE (R-La.) They have been censored by their state parties for voting to condemn Trump. State parties in Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Maine plan to discuss possible punitive measures against Sens. Ben Sasse
Ben Sasse Cassidy: It was clear that Trump “wanted lawmakers to be intimidated” The North Carolina Republican Party condemns Burr for vote of dismissal against Trump Toomey over Trump’s vote: “His betrayal of the Constitution” required MORE condemnation (R-Neb.), Pat Toomey
Patrick (Pat) Joseph Toomey Toomey censored by several Pennsylvania County GOP committees for Toomey’s dismissal vote on Trump’s vote: “His betrayal of the Constitution” required Romney’s conviction for dismissal vote to condemn: “Trump incited the insurrection “MORE (R-Pa.) I Susan Collins
Susan Margaret Collins: North Carolina Republican Party Votes to Censor Burr for Vote to Condemn Trump Maine GOP to Consider Censoring Collins for Vote to Condemn Trump Cassidy: It was clear that Trump “wanted lawmakers to be intimidated” MORE (R-Maine), who also voted to condemn.
State parties have already censored representatives. Liz Cheney
Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn Cheney Juan Williams: GOP makes sense again Rahm Emanuel predicts Trump will seek retribution against GOP opponents, will not run for Republican re-election to form a third party: don’t count on it MORE (Wyo.) I Tom Rice
Hugh (Tom) Senator Thompson RiceGOP warns his party must decide between “conservatism and madness” These are Republican lawmakers censored by Republicans for imputing Trump from South Carolina GOP votes to censor representation Rice by dismissal vote MORE (RS.C.) for his votes to accuse Trump. The former president’s allies in the House have tried to deprive Cheney of her leadership position and have already begun campaigning against her.
His. Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann Murkowski, Juan Williams: Returning Wisdom to GOP Klobuchar: The impeachment trial “tried not to hide history” Cassidy: It was clear that Trump “wanted lawmakers to be intimidated” MORE (Alaska) is the only Republican senator who voted to condemn re-election this year and Trump’s allies say she is sure to face a major rival.
Murkowski has said she doesn’t feel at home in a GOP that, she says, seems loyal to Trump above all else.
State party leaders have defended punitive moves, saying they are feeling overwhelmed by the outrage of their constituents who are furious with lawmakers who did not defend Trump.
North Carolina GOP President Michael Whatley said Tuesday that “hundreds of volunteers and activists” contacted him to express his disappointment with Burr after his vote to convict, prompting censorship. of the state party.
Sasse, a conservative who has been an unwavering critic of Trump, acknowledged Tuesday that he is still the Trump party.
“If we look at the short-term polls, it probably looks like this,” Sasse told NPR.
But he urged Republicans to think of being more than a party focused on “Donald Trump’s personality.”
“I think there’s a lot of things that the Lincoln and Reagan party has to do to convince people that we have a 2030 agenda, not a 20-minute Twitter agenda,” Sasse said.
Republican Party strategists are worried about the increasingly likely possibility of an ugly primary season between Trump loyalists and those who believe the party must get ahead of the former president to succeed.
“Republicans must stop fighting back the lost battles of yesterday and focus on tomorrow,” said Colin Reed, a strategist for the Democratic Republic of Congo. “To regain relevance – and more importantly, the ability to govern – Republicans must focus their energy outward, not outward. Until we do, we’ll just call the wind and President Biden
Joe Biden McConnell does not rule out getting involved in Republican primaries Perdue presents documents to explore Hillicon Valley, led by Senate 2022: Parler announces official relaunch | Google launches agreement with major Australian media companies China is central to the Republican Party’s efforts to back Biden MORE. and Democrats will enjoy it every minute. “