In the wake of Donald Trump’s second acquittal in an indictment, his supporters celebrated confirmed dominance of the Republican Party. But as they did so, an influential voice warned: ‘Mr. Trump may take his turn again, but he will not win a national election again. ‘
The Wall Street Journal also said that other moves as a candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination, such as a “revenge campaign” or a third party, would only divide the center-right and elect Democrats.
The verdict comes in an editorial from an article owned by Rupert Murdoch, a dominant voice on the American right. It reflects moves by Murdoch, the Journal and his other powerful media outlet, Fox News, last November in the immediate aftermath of an election, but Trump still refuses to admit he lost.
On Saturday, seven Senate Republicans voted with Democrats to convict Trump on a charge of insurgency following the riot in the Capitol – 10 short of the required two-thirds majority.
Many Republicans, especially minority leader Mitch McConnell, were outraged by Trump’s behavior, but said they voted to acquit because the trial was unconstitutional. Scholars dispute this, and the Senate has twice voted to proceed.
Trump issued a triumphant statement promising supporters that he “will continue our incredible journey to achieve American greatness for all our people”.
And on its news pages Monday, under the headline “Pro-Trump candidates start early senate, offer governor,” the Journal looked at early movements in key states before the mid-term of 2022. The story features emerging pro-Trump campaigns in Ohio, Virginia, Arkansas and elsewhere.
But on the opinion page, under the headline “Trump’s Non-Vindication,” the editors of the Journal added the newspaper’s voice to the warnings of senior Republicans that Trump’s hold on the rank and file may not lead to another successful White House run can not translate – although Democrats in Congress could not prevent him from the future office.
“For four years,” the editors claimed, “Mr. Trump’s actions have largely remained within constitutional limits – despite his rhetorical extravagance and democratic efforts to oust him from office by violating norms and cracking down on conspiracy theories.
“But Mr. Trump’s dishonest challenge for the 2020 election, even after multiple defeats in court, clearly broke these limits and culminated in the January 6 riots.
‘Mr. Trump may take his turn again, but he will not win a national election again. He lost the election before the events of January 6, and as president, his job approval never rose above 50%.
He can go on a revenge campaign or run as a third-party candidate, but all he will achieve is to split the center-right and elect Democrats. The defeat of the GOP in the two Senate races of Georgia on January 5 proved it.
“The country is moving past the Trump presidency, and the GOP will remain in the desert until it does.”