Donald Trump puts his foot in his mouth again: In my own GOP circle of colleagues I have known and trusted for years – the shock and outrage over Donald Trump’s comments that evangelical Christians, what might be his most loyal group of supporters, were somehow disloyal – is reaching a fever pitch.
This time, and yes, I know Donald Trump makes a lot of crazy comments, but the mood feels a little different.
The anger feels a little more real.
Indeed, most in the GOP I know are quite angry and not afraid to let it be known, although at least for now, on background, as they still fear, and rightly so, that Donald Trump can still win the 2024 GOP nomination for president.
He could end their chances of getting any sort of senior positions in local, state, or federal government or GOP politics. And, even with him, if he does take the Oval Office in 2024.
That seems really, well, D.C., if you will, but that is the nature of GOP politics these days. They don’t call it the swamp for nothing, folks.
Here is a sample of what people would tell mone background.
Donald Trump, RIP for 2024 White House Run?
A former GOP staffer who worked in the National Security Council for Donald Trump offered to me that: “What Trump said was flat out wrong. And it could very well be the end of his political career, to be frank. Trump 2024, RIP? It could be possible this time. And he has only himself to blame.
Evangelicals are a very, very loyal group to Donald Trump. They overlooked all of his personal issues, divorces, comments about women, and attacks on patriots like John McCain and gave the man a chance.
He blew it.
Now what happens is not clear. They could just sweep it under the rug, but this time I am not so sure. People in the GOP are angry. Even some hardcore MAGA supports are not pleased.”
Another comment, this time from a top foreign policy official who worked for Mitt Romney’s campaign, was even blunter:
“What has Donald Trump done now?
Can’t this man ever close that trap of his? I mean, come on, he needs Christians to come to the polls in massive numbers to vote for him if he thinks he can beat a surging Ron DeSantis.
What does he do if they decide Trump is not worth it and decide to go in another direction? He needs to make these people love him, show them he is in their camp – not try to alienate them.
What a fool.”
Lastly, a comment from a prominent GOP pollster who advises past Congressional candidates and current members: “Donald Trump does not think when he speaks.
And, at some point, he has to pay the price for what he says.
While I am not sure that day is here yet, I see many more Republicans speaking up about these sad comments and taking a stand.
I just only hope it happens before Donald Trump wins the nomination in 2024 – and I think right now he would.”
About the author: Harry J. Kazianis (@Grecianformula) serves as President and CEO of Rogue States Project, a bipartisan national security think tank. He has held senior positions at the Center for the National Interest, the Heritage Foundation, the Potomac Foundation, and many other think tanks and academic institutions focused on defense issues. He served on the Russia task force for U.S. Presidential Candidate Senator Ted Cruz, and in a similar task force in the John Hay Initiative. His ideas have been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, CNN, CNBC, and many other outlets across the political spectrum. He holds a graduate degree in International Relations from Harvard University and is the author of The Tao of A2/AD, a study of Chinese military modernization. Kazianis also has a background in defense journalism, having served as Editor-In-Chief at The Diplomat and Executive Editor for the National Interest.
JoJoPB
January 19, 2023 at 7:34 pm
you are spot on dt needs to zip it!
Richard G Bebout
January 19, 2023 at 10:32 pm
This man cannot reason in any and all situations. I took a very dislike to his campaign talks when he came on the campaign trail back in 2015/2016. It was easy to see his demeanor, To this day I haven’t figured out how he amassed such a following. He is for Donald and only Donald. (proved that on Jan 6th 2021). A blundering idiot if I say so myself, I am a 60 yr registered REPUBLICAN. P.S. Richard Nixon was a Saint, Next to him.
Andy
January 20, 2023 at 9:47 am
What about we talk about the current president, Joe Biden can’t even finish one sentence, his family is completely corrupt, his son hired prostitutes, did meth with them, made sex videos with them, and took pictures with them while doing meth that are all over the internet and yet you guys are talking about Trump because he made mean comments?, You guys are a joke.
Lance
January 20, 2023 at 3:27 pm
In regard to the previous commenter, this is a demonstration of just how often no one is able to backup Donald Trump, with anything positive about Donald Trump. This article has nothing to do with President Joe Biden, yet the previous commenter seems to think this conversation (or article) should be offset or diminished by changing the subject of the conversation. If only we all could stay focused on the subject (person) of the article. I am sure there are plenty of articles about President Joe Biden, so feel free to debate his character in an article about Biden.
vicki southall
January 20, 2023 at 6:31 pm
making fun of someone’s speech impediment makes you look foolish but typical of trump supporters to grunt something when the stable genius spews more illiterate trash.
Lindsay Graham
January 20, 2023 at 9:51 pm
Trump has no chance of ever being president unless there is EXTREME voter suppression. Not likely. He may be indicted soon or may possibly be convicted of numerous crimes. Either way, the trump empire is crumbling at a horrible, nasty, vicious rate. They should run for their lives!
Jim Messier
January 21, 2023 at 1:00 am
Anytime anyone goes against Donald Trump they change the subject because there is no defending this narcistic liar. I don’t have to do anything to make sure that he does not win in 2024 because his foot in mouth disease will see to that. His MAGA supporters are stupid enough to believe that the garbage coming out of his mouth is true because he keeps on repeating it. Good luck with that.
Suzy Que
January 21, 2023 at 2:46 pm
Yeah, Trump has a mouth that he could work on keeping shut sometimes, but that’s why he’s a successful businessman – he’s a doer & not just a ‘talker’, solves problems, gets things done! And what about all he had accomplished as President for the American people vs. what has Biden as President done for the American people?
There’s no comparison, the US economy was in much better shape under Trump than it is now under Biden. And I can certainly say under Trump, ‘my life was better’ vs. now under Biden it’s definitely not!
Why can’t democrats/liberals focus on what each President had/has accomplished, instead of just focusing on Trump, what he says & the end goal of trying to prevent him from running for office & being President again??
This ‘game’ with democrats/liberals is positively EXHAUSTING!! I’m sooo tired of hearing about Trump’s character, WHO CARES???
Notice, I did not attack Biden’s character, unlike the other comments attacking Trump’s character, but instead, just what he has done for the American people – nothing!
A person’s character does not govern a country, it’s what that person has done, does or accomplished, that does.
John patterson
January 21, 2023 at 3:38 pm
Follow the money. The big money is turning their backs on him. He’s finished.
JuanSanchez
January 21, 2023 at 3:44 pm
Tell me you’re a RINO never-trumper without saying so: “badmouthing patriot John McCain”. McCain was one of the worst republicans in the senate. He was for amnesty and open borders and was the deciding vote to keep Obamacare. He would only talk tough the year before elections. Trump had the most secure border ever, had low and middle income wages increasing for the first time in decades (relative to inflation), cut regulations, etc etc. One could list his accomplishment for several paragraphs. His biggest failures were not draining the swamp and listening to the wrong people when filling positions.
Hannah
January 22, 2023 at 11:50 am
Trump is NOT a successful businessman and if you count all of the bankruptcies he’s filed as success then your definition is not the same as my definition. Solves problems, gets things done, then why did so many people have to die before he was forced to acknowledge that Covid would not just disappear. Words out of his own mouth that Covid would just go away. Trump inherited a strong economy from Obama. That has been verified, Trump had nothing to do to do with the strong economy it was already in place but of course Trump takes credit for it. Did you take in consideration that the pandemic took its toll on the US and around the world. Happy for you if your life was much better under Trump. Keep the illusion.
Lepke Buchalter
January 22, 2023 at 1:45 pm
Trump has support because he got things done other politicians only talked about. W/o covid, the US was on the way to the best economy in my lifetime. I’m 75. Wages were going up substantially for the first time in 30 years. Minorities were getting more money and access to better jobs than at any time. The border was being being secured. We finally had energy independence. Diesel was $2, almost no inflation, a much better foreign policy than Bush, Obama or Biden. No new wars were started.
Supporters turn off Trumps foot in the mouth statements because the results for America outweighed his statements. Just like Rinos and democrats tune out Biden’s corruption, Obama’s incompetence and democrat weaponizing federal departments.
Ivan G
January 22, 2023 at 10:05 pm
I would like to know why when Trump supporters are confronted with the truth. They deflect and call others names.
That is not only bad form..
But shows you how intelligent they really are. I’m sure that they supported the insurrectionists and the violence they exacted not only on the police, but democracy as well.
I am not a biden lover. The man has many faults. But if i were to compare Trump and his family to Bidens. Biden is a saint in comparison.
Christopher Miller
January 23, 2023 at 4:10 pm
The main things Trump accomplished were huge tax cuts to the wealthiest tax dodgers like himself and mega-corporations (neither of which merited or needed tax breaks) weakening or elimination of needed environmental safeguards it took decades of work to achieve, and severe erosion of democraic norms and American credibility abroad. His outrageous repugnant behaviour and ignorance made incivility and inexcusable rudeness a new, lamentable norm. He is responsible for encouraging Putin to proceed against Ukraine and still wants to establish a Soviet style dictatorship with himself as the premier.
Linda S.
January 25, 2023 at 9:19 pm
Donald Trump is the best president I have seen in my lifetime and I am 60 years old- Promises made , promises kept-Democrats want to make America a dictatorship and run our economy in the ground/ infuse us with illegals so we are a third world country, I am an American black Independent(never democrat) and I will vote for Trump any day that to have the corrupt criminal that is in power now. Biden stole the election and we all know it-and we are surly paying for it. Biden the worst president of all times–But the tide is turning now and I believe that Biden will see his Karma.
Linda K
January 26, 2023 at 4:22 pm
Let him keep talking if that’s what will get rid of him. I am Hoping. When I turn on the news in the morning, I am hoping to hear that someone has finally pressed criminal charges against him so he can’t run for President. I love the cartoon of the family standing behind bars. Time to move on to hearing positive news in the morning.
M. Sorensen
January 28, 2023 at 2:55 pm
I have observed FOUR things in the present DEMOCRATS in Washington DC (and many in the USA State Governments). They are interested in FOUR things…….
1. My money.
2. MY vote.
3. Increasing THEIR POWER.
4. Increasing THEIR WEALTH.
AND they will LIE, CHEAT, and STEAL to obtain all four..
I don’t trust any of them…..
Dr. Joseph Adan
May 12, 2023 at 3:00 am
If trump were black, he would have been arrested years ago!
If he is allowed to run for president again, the US will lose
all respect in the eyes of the world. The US would have proved that
the it has lost its mind and decency. As a man who tells the truth would say, “trump ist ein schweinehund!”
Donald Cobane
May 12, 2023 at 5:06 pm
I agree that Trump should think before engaging mouth But.. He got things accomplished as President, closed borders, Biden has now open borders and crime has drastically increased. Plus, I believe that had Trump been President, Putin would not have attacked Ukraine! The Bidens are crooks as are the Democrats who are ruining this country! I could go on and on about the pro’s and cons of both parties!
Larry W. Jordan
May 16, 2023 at 11:10 am
I don’t blame Trump for the economic collapse. I blame Clorox. Some Trump voters took his Covid advice literally and were rendered unable to vote. So, Trump lost, and we got stuck with Biden whose management of the USA economy has recently averted a rumored recession.
kenneth Lawrence
May 21, 2023 at 12:41 pm
If the Proud Boys are going to jail. What about the MOB Boss! We have heard the evidence of January 6 attack on Congress. We all know that it is being played down. We can’t ignore his derelict of duty to call of the rioters !