Old one President Trump
Donald TrumpMichigan Democrat Dingell on violent rhetoric: ‘I had men in front of my house with assault weapons’ McConnell does not rule out getting involved in the Republican primaries 75 percent of Republicans want Trump to play a prominent role in the Republican Party: poll MORE on Tuesday unloaded in the Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell does not rule out getting involved in the Republican primaries McConnell advocates absolution in a WSJ opinion piece, but blows up Trump’s ‘unbalanced falsehoods’. Biden promises action on weapons amid resistance MORE (R-Ky.) And he promised to support opponents to lawmakers who oppose him.
In a statement released through his super PAC Save America, Trump blamed McConnell for the GOP defeats in the Senate in 2020 and urged Republicans to elect new leaders to continue his legacy.
“Mitch is a severe, taciturn, and serious political hack, and if Republican senators stay with him, they won’t win again,” said Trump.
“He will never do what needs to be done, or what is right for our country. Whenever necessary and appropriate, I will support the main rivals who advocate Making America Great Again and our America First policy. We want brilliant, strong, caring and compassionate leadership, ”said Trump.
The statement came days after McConnell attacked the former president in a speech from the Senate floor after voting to absolve him of impeachment charges that he incited a crowd to attack the Capitol. Despite his vote, McConnell said Trump was “practically and morally” responsible for the deadly siege.
McConnell also left open the possibility of Trump facing civil or criminal charges for his role in the riots, even though he was acquitted by the Senate.
“The leader of the free world cannot spend weeks thundering that dark forces are stealing from our country and then pretending to be surprised,” said McConnell.
“President Trump is still responsible for everything he did while in office, as an ordinary citizen, unless the statute of limitations has been enforced. … [He] hasn’t gotten away with anything yet, ”added McConnell.
McConnell said he and Trump have not spoken since mid-December, as tensions have risen with the former president’s baseless allegations that the election was stolen from him.
Comments on the Republican Party’s Senate leader impeachment trial, which is widely seen as a skilled political tactic, sent a clear signal that he believes the party must forge a separate identity from Trump to remain competitive in future elections.
The disagreement between Trump and McConnell, who had a fruitful alliance while Trump was in office, may herald an intra-party civil war that unfolds in the primaries across the country as the Republican Party seeks a way forward now that Trump is out of office.
Only seven Republican senators joined all 50 Democrats in the vote to condemn Trump, while McConnell and 42 other Republicans voted for absolution. A two-thirds vote was needed to plead guilty.
Trump remains hugely popular with the grassroots base and has encouraged conservatives to attend in record numbers.
But Democrats have also appeared in record numbers over Trump’s years, and many mainstream Republicans see the former president as politically toxic to independents, moderates, women and suburban voters that they need to win back the majority in the House and Senate.
On Tuesday, Trump gave the clearest signal that he intended to exercise his influence over the party by persecuting critics.
The former president criticized McConnell, saying that the “Republican Party leader’s lack of political vision, wisdom, skill and personality quickly led him from majority leader to minority leader”.
“This is only going to get worse … We know that our agenda for America First is winning, not McConnell’s agenda for Beltway First or Biden’s America Last,” said Trump.
Trump also boasted that he received the highest number of votes for any incumbent president in history and claimed that his presence “alone” saved “at least 12 Senate seats” during his term.
The former president asked Republicans to elect new leaders who would be loyal to his vision for the party.
“The Republican Party will never again be respected or strong with political ‘leaders’ like Senator Mitch McConnell at his command,” said Trump.
“He is destroying the Republican side of the Senate and, in doing so, seriously damaging our country … He doesn’t have what it takes, he never had and he never will.”
All Republican senators who voted to condemn Trump have faced criticism from Republicans in their states, some facing censorship resolutions from their state parties.
Sens. Richard Burr
Richard Mauze Burr The Republican Party of North Carolina votes to censor Burr for the vote to condemn Trump Maine The GOP considers Collins’ censorship for the vote to condemn Trump Iowa Republican announces Senate candidacy with Grassley’s 2022 plans unclear MORE (RN.C.) and Bill Cassidy
Bill Cassidy The Republican Party of North Carolina votes to censor Burr for voting to condemn Trump Maine The GOP considers censoring Collins for voting to condemn Trump Ex-Sen. Jeff Flake asks the Republican Party to leave Trump: ‘We should have condemned him MORE (R-La.) They were 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 SasseCassidy: It was clear that Trump ‘wanted legislators to be intimidated’ The North Carolina Republican Party condemns Burr for impeachment vote against Trump Toomey in Trump’s vote: ‘His betrayal of the Constitution’ demanded condemnation MORE (R-Neb.), Pat Toomey
Patrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeyToomey censored by various Pennsylvania County Republican Party committees because of the impeachment vote Toomey in the Trump vote: ‘Your betrayal of the Constitution’ demanded Romney’s condemnation in the impeachment vote to condemn: ‘Trump incited the insurrection ‘ MOST (R-Pa.) E Susan Collins
Susan Margaret Collins The Republican Party of North Carolina votes to censor Burr for voting to condemn Trump Maine The GOP considers censoring Collins for the vote to condemn Trump Cassidy: It was clear that Trump ‘wished lawmakers to be intimidated’ MORE (R-Maine), who also voted for the conviction.
State parties have already censored the Reps. Liz Cheney
Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyJuan Williams: Bring sanity back to the Republican Party Rahm Emanuel predicts that Trump will seek revenge on Republican Party opponents, will not run for Republican reelection by forming a third party: Don’t count on it MORE (Wyo.) And Tom Rice
Hugh (Tom) Thompson RiceGOP Senator warns his party must decide between ‘conservatism and madness’ Here are Republican lawmakers censored by Republicans for Trump’s impeachment in South Carolina Republican Party votes to censor Rep. Rice on impeachment vote MORE (RS.C.) for his votes on Trump’s impeachment. The ex-president’s allies in the House tried to remove Cheney from his leadership post and have already started campaigning against her.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann MurkowskiJuan Williams: Bring sanity back to the GOP Klobuchar: Impeachment trial ‘was about not hiding the story’ Cassidy: It was clear that Trump ‘wanted lawmakers to be bullied’ MORE (Alaska) is the only Republican senator who voted to condemn and is running for re-election this year, and Trump’s allies say she will certainly face a primary opponent.
Murkowski said she doesn’t feel at home in a GOP that she says seems loyal to Trump above all.
State party leaders have defended punitive measures, saying they are being inundated with the indignation of their voters, who are furious with lawmakers who did not defend Trump.
North Carolina Republican Party President Michael Whatley said on Tuesday that “hundreds of volunteers and activists” contacted him to express his disappointment with Burr after his vote to condemn, resulting in censorship by the state party.
Sasse, a conservative who has been an unwavering critic of Trump, acknowledged on Tuesday that it is still Trump’s party.
“If you look at short-term research, it certainly looks like it,” Sasse told NPR.
But he urged Republicans to think of being more than a party focused on “Donald Trump’s personality”.
“I think there are a lot of things that the Lincoln and Reagan party needs to do to persuade people that we have a 2030 agenda, not a 20-minute agenda on Twitter,” said Sasse.
Republican Party strategists are concerned about the increasingly likely possibility of an ugly primary season between Trump loyalists and those who believe the party must leave the former president to succeed.
“Republicans need to stop fighting yesterday’s lost battles and focus on tomorrow,” said Republican strategist Colin Reed. “To regain relevance – and more importantly, the ability to govern – Republicans must focus their energy externally, not on each other. Until we do, we’ll just be screaming in the wind, and President biden
Joe BidenMcConnell does not rule out getting involved in Republican primaries. Perdue files paperwork to explore Hillicon Valley in 2022: Parler announces official relaunch | Google closes compensation deal with major Australian media company | China is central to the Republican Party’s efforts to resist Biden MORE. and Democrats are going to savor every minute. ”