Senate Republicans warn they can no longer see President Trump
Donald TrumpBiden on Trump acquittal: ‘The case is not in dispute’ North Carolina GOP condemns Burr for accusation against Trump Toomey over Trump vote: ‘His betrayal of the Constitution’ requires more conviction as leader of the party, amid increasing signs that they are ready to turn the page after a chaotic four years.
Although only seven of the 50 GOP senators voted to find Trump ‘guilty’ at the end of his second indictment, Republicans, including those voting to acquit, are planning a future where Trump is no longer their center of gravity. years of domination. their daily lives.
Trump shows no signs of leaving and says in a statement after the trial concluded that ‘MAGA’ has just begun. But Republicans say he has reduced support and competition for the party’s top spot.
“He made it pretty hard to get support. As you can see, there is support that will never go away, but I think it’s a shrinking population and will probably shrink a bit after this week, ‘Sen said. Kevin Cramer
Kevin John Cramer Senate acquits Trump in 57-43 vote by Senate to strike a deal, bypasses Senators, and prosecution teams try to cut witnesses MORE (RN.D.), who has now joined Trump since he was elected in 2018.
Sen. Mike Braun
Michael BraunGOP senators praise accusation managers but say Trump will be acquitted Senate panel promotes Biden’s education and labor secretary selects LIVE COVER: Democrats focus on Trump remarks before attacking Capitol MORE (R-Ind.), Asked about the chances that Trump would go on to a victory round, prompted Trump to carefully consider the next steps.
‘I think everything the president intends to do in the future will require a lot of psychological examination. “I’m more concerned about how we rebuild the party in a way that gets more people there,” Braun added, who voted to acquit Trump.
The move underscores how Trump’s actions deeply broke Senate Republicans in the aftermath of Jan. 6, while GOP senators said Trump should not feel justified just because he was acquitted of inciting an uprising.
The shifts have been fully exposed in recent days: Republicans have been careful not to defend Trump personally, members of the caucus have privately discussed whether there would be enough support for the president and the seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump found, to rebuke. fiscal conservative to moderate.
“The president has done a lot of damage to his reputation. “He will be remembered throughout history as the president who used illegal steps to try to hold on to power,” said Sen. Pat Toomey
Patrick (Pat) Joseph Toomey Toomey on Trump vote: ‘His betrayal of the Constitution’ requires conviction Romney on accusation vote to condemn: ‘Trump incited the uprising’ GOP Sen. Cassidy: ‘I voted to convict Trump because he is guilty’ MORE (R-Pa.), One of the seven GOP senators, said.
Sen. John Thune
John Randolph Thune Nee. 2 GOP Senator Suggests Opening to Trump’s Sensation The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by TikTok – New video of riot unleashes many Senators McConnell pushing GOP not to release Trump MORE (RS.D.) said the vote was ‘absolutely not’. Republicans endorse Trump’s language and behavior. The former president asked his supporters to go to the Capitol on January 6 while he was vice president at the time Mike Pence
Michael (Mike) Richard PenceCollins: Trump ‘incites an uprising’ to prevent the transfer of power McConnell downloads on Trump: ‘morally responsible’ for provoking mob Seven GOP senators vote to convict Trump MORE and legislators certify President Biden
Joe BidenBiden on Trump acquittal: ‘The case is not in dispute’ White House spokesman resigns after threatening political reporter Trump votes a conviction exposes GOP division MORE‘s election college wins.
“There is no way. “You can not defend much of what has happened in the past almost three months since the election on November 3,” Thune said.
There are few signs that Trump is listening, while the former president and his legal team make it clear that they view the acquittal as a justification that could bring him back into the public spotlight.
‘It was another phase of the biggest witch hunt in the history of our country. “Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to make America great has just begun,” Trump said in a statement.
And Republicans face headaches even when they make it clear they want to move on. Trump retains an iron grip on part of the party base – the same voters Republicans need if they want to win back the House and Senate next year.
Outside the Senate, the divisions among Republicans over dealing with the larger-than-life figure who were toxic to swing voters but deeply loyal to some Republicans are fully displayed.
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley
Nikki HaleyThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Trump’s Advocates Begin Oral Arguments Hoping for a Recovery Nikki Haley breaks with Trump: ‘We should not have followed him’ The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by TikTok – Dems rests case; verdict on Trump this weekend MORE, who has 2024 ambitions of her own, made headlines when Politico published an article quoting her, saying that Trump ‘went down a path he should not have, and we should not have followed him, and we should not have listened to him. ”
Meanwhile, the Sen. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamSunday shows preview: Lawmakers weigh in on Trump accusation; Biden administration looks at the timeline for mass vaccinations. The five GOP senators who voted to call witnesses say he will meet with Trump to discuss GOP’s future MORE (RS.C.) told reporters he will meet with Trump soon to discuss the party’s future; Sen. Marco Rubio
Marco Antonio RubioTrump conviction vote exposes GOP gap The memorandum: GOP senators face defining vote on Trump GOP senators praise accusation managers but say Trump will be more acquitted (R-Fla.) Said Trump “remains the most popular Republican in the country” and Sen. Bill Cassidy
Bill Cassidy North Carolina GOP condemns Burr for accusation against Trump Toomey over Trump vote: ‘His betrayal of the Constitution’ found guilty Collins: Trump ‘incited an uprising’ to prevent more transfer of power (R-La.) Was quickly convicted for his conviction.
Thune, against whom Trump threatened to back a primary challenger, said the party needed to find a way to retain the former president’s voters, but in a way that was ‘unifying and hopeful and optimistic’. ‘
“The floor is starting to open up a little bit now” for others, he said. “It certainly seems clear that the former president wants to continue to play a role, but I think there will be opportunities for new leaders who can articulate new vision.”
Trump has been the driving force behind the Republican Party since coming to power. But since 2017, Republicans have lost the White House, the House and the Senate.
Several GOP senators have indicated that they no longer believe Trump is the leader of the party. The position, they argued, is empty and if Trump wants to take it back, they believe he will face competition.
“Losing the bully’s chair is a big difference. i think so [we’re] already starting to see that groundwork is being laid by other people who want to succeed him, ”said Sen. John Cornyn
John Cornyn We know how Republicans will vote – but what do they believe? LIVE COVER: Trial ends for a day when Senate goes to vote The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by TikTok – Dems rest their case; verdict on Trump this weekend MORE (R-Texas).
Cornyn also indicated that he thinks Trump will play a diminished role in the daily conversation in the Capitol, saying, “We will not keep talking about his tweets or about what he did or did not do.”
Sen. James Inhofe
James (Jim) Mountain CourtsOvernight Defense: Pentagon, Congress Appoints Panelists to Rename Connected Bases | The military is approving another 20 Pentagon coronavirus vaccination teams, and Congress is appointing panelists to name the Confederate base names The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by TikTok – Dems relies on their case; verdict on Trump this weekend MORE (R-Okla.) Also said that the top spot is empty and that there will be competition for who will fill the power vortex that Trump leaves behind.
“I think there is currently competition for the role,” Inhofe said, adding that the former president was among the competitors.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann Murkowski Toomey votes on Trump vote: ‘His betrayal of the Constitution’ demands conviction Trump conviction vote exposed GOP divides Romney on charge vote to convict: ‘Trump incited the uprising’ MORE (R-Alaska) pointed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Trump conviction simply agrees to GOP split Pelosi rules out verdict after Trump acquittal Raskin defends no agreement with witnesses: ‘I made the call’ MORE (R-Ky.) If the leader of the party now with Trump out of office.
McConnell, who is stylistically opposed to a president he has held on to for four years, voiced blatant criticism of Trump after the Senate vote and blamed the January 6 attack on the former president.
“There is no doubt that President Trump is responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about that,” McConnell said.
McConnell also showed his hand to political legal consequences the former president could face, adding that Trump was “still accountable” in the court system and “nothing has escaped yet.”
Trump has publicly flirted with a 2024 presidential election, which senators privately discounted after the attack.
Cramer, while acknowledging that many of his constituents still support Trump, said it would be ‘difficult’ for him to support the former president if he is running again. Murkowski said she did not see how Trump could become president again after the riots.
Several other IDP senators tried to sidestep the case, while not accepting a second bid in the White House.
“Whether he’s even running, it’s his decision, whether he can be re-elected, it’s going to be the voters’ decision,” Sen. Ron Johnson
Ronald (Ron) Harold JohnsonJohnson confronts Romney after voting on witnesses LIVE COVERAGE: Senate hearing moves to final arguments Democratic group targets GOP senators with ads before indictment More (R-Wis.).
“I think the president’s actions since the election have been extremely disappointing. And not something I agreed on and not something I ever want to see again, ”said Sen. Mike Rounds
Mike Rounds GOOP senators praise accusation managers, but say Trump will be acquitted. GOP senators say trial could wrap up once Trump trial is a new obstacle to the dichotomy of COVID-19 (RS.D.). Rounds added that he believes it is too early to speak in 2024, other than to say there will be a “very qualified candidate.”
Rubio, who is also seen as an ambition in the White House, told reporters that he had too many “real” problems to judge the potential that Trump could use again in 2024.
“We’re talking about things that can never happen,” Rubio said. “There are enough real problems ahead of us right now.”