President Trump is setting fire to his own party and its leaders on his way out of power – and throwing gas into the fire with a public call for mass protests next week and a vote to reverse his defeat.
Why it matters: Trump is demanding that Republicans accept him fully and unequivocally – or face his wrath. This is self-inflicted, self-centered – and dangerous for a Republican Party that clings to Washington’s declining power.
Look at Trump just this week:
- He’s trying to burn the party’s chances in Georgia’s runoff on Tuesday, raising doubts for Republican voters tweeting yesterday that state elections are “illegal and invalid, and that would include the two current Senate elections”.
- He’s trying to burn Georgia Governor Brian Kemp – who won with Trump’s primary endorsement – because Kemp did not interfere with the state’s presidential results. Trump told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo that he is “embarrassed” for supporting Kemp, and tweeted that Kemp should step down because he is “an obstructionist who refuses to admit that we beat Georgia, BIG.”
- He’s trying to burn the party’s credibility fueling protests during Congressional certification on Wednesday of President-elect Biden’s electoral college victory. Trump retweeted details about the “#StopTheSteal” demonstrations, Including one with the web address “WILDPROTEST.” He tweeted “See you in DC” – and “Be there, it will be wild!”
- He’s trying to burn Majority lead senator Mitch McConnell, who congratulated President-elect Biden on his victory. Trump falsely claimed credit for McConnell’s overwhelming re-election.
- He’s playing other Republicans into the fire with useless efforts to obstruct Biden’s certification. McConnell, in a conference call with fellow Senate Republicans, called the next vote “the most important vote ever cast,” said Jonathan Swan.
- He’s trying to burn Sen. John Thune (RS.D.), tweeting on New Year’s Day he wants South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to give him primary
- He lit the match in the latest effort to increase stimulus checks to $ 2,000, which threatened to split the party before McConnell killed him.
The big picture: A united Republican Party could have won the victory by exceeding expectations in disputes by the House and the Senate, making inroads among Hispanics and delivering stimulus checks. Instead, the GOP is debating an implausible decertification of a presidential election.