Donald Trump emerged from his second impeachment lawsuit almost entirely politically. But amid widespread lamentation (or celebrations, depending on the speaker’s membership) over the former president’s grip on the Republican party, some clear voices suggested that change could be made. on guard.
“Losing the bully pulpit is a big difference,” Senator John Cornyn of Texas told the Hill, about Trump’s exit from the White House and from high social media platforms, following the US Capitol invasion.
“I think so [we’re] already starting to see some groundwork put down by others who want to succeed. “
By a vote of 57-43, the Senate voted to get Trump on the charge that he incited the mob attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6. Seven Republicans joined all Democrats and independents in supporting a conviction, which would have prevented Trump from running for office again. But the vote did not provide the required two – thirds of the votes.
Only one Republican, Mitt Romney, won Trump’s first lawsuit last year. But as Trump supporters blocked the stronger display of opposition within the party, Trump did too.
The former president will be 78 in 2024 and has not promised to run again. But his post-release statement foresaw a resumption of a more visible role in U.S. politics in the coming months.
“Our historic, loving and beautiful move to Make America Great Again has just begun,” Trump said. “In the coming months I have a lot to tell you, and I look forward to continuing to our incredible journey together to achieve the greatness of America for all our people. There was never anything like it! “
In interviews on Sunday, Republicans who were planning to turn against Trump were asked about the consequences that would resemble their votes.
In Louisiana, the state Republican party voted to question General Bill Cassidy, whose Louisiana Republican Caucus chairman warned not to “expect a warm welcome when you return home to Louisiana!”
Speaking to ABC this week, Cassidy said: “President Trump is expected to be accountable and that is my confidence in my chosen people and I am very confident when time passes. past that people move to that position. “
Trump’s friends insisted that he is still the center of the Republican universe.
“Donald Trump is the most active member of the Republican party,” Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Trump’s close ally, told Fox News Sunday. “The Trump movement is alive and well.”
Jason Chaffetz, a former Utah communicator, framed the impeachment as a quixotic Democrat failure.
“I don’t think history has handled this very well,” he told Fox. “It didn’t have the legitimacy that the Democrats hoped it would.” They didn’t affect anyone. I think it was a waste of time and now Democrats are 0 for 2 and America wants to move on. “
At the same time, there are signs that unity remains unattainable within Republican ranks. In an interview with Politico, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate minority leader who ousted Trump after an impeachment lawsuit but nevertheless voted for freedom, indicated that he would into primary schools in which a Trump-backed candidate seemed to win.
“My goal is, in every way possible, to nominate nominees to represent the Republican party that can win in,” McConnell said. “Some of them may be people like the former president. Some may not. The only thing that matters to me is electability. “
McConnell said: “I’m not saying the president would support people who couldn’t win. But I think the point of electability – not who is supporting it – is the critical point. “
Graham marked the decline of McConnell’s Senate speech among Trump supporters.
“He got a load off his chest,” he said, “obviously, but unfortunately he put a cargo behind a Republican.” That speech that you will see in the 2022 campaigns.
“I think if you are a Republican running in Arizona or Georgia, New Hampshire, where we have a chance to take the Senate back, they are probably playing General McConnell’s speech and asking you about it as a candidate. And I think if you’re a Republican, they’re going to ask people, ‘Will you support General McConnell in the future? ‘”
Close relatives of Trump are running for headquarters in the next century. In Arkansas, former White House news secretary Sarah Sanders is awaiting a Republican nomination for governor. In North Carolina, Graham suggested that Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law, may be running for the Senate to replace Richard Burr, the retired senator and vote. to condemn Trump.
There is also talk that Ivanka Trump could run for Senate in Florida, challenging Marco Rubio.
Famous anti-Trump figures see a conflict ahead. Larry Hogan, a Maryland governor who is widely expected to run a primary school in 2024, said anti-Trump sentiment would continue to grow.
“We’re only a month into Biden ‘s administration,” Hogan told CNN. “I don’t think the last chapter of Donald Trump and the Republican party has been written yet.”