Republicans divided over Trump's future in party
Donald Trump, an essential electoral asset or, on the contrary, instigator of the assault on Capitol Hill that must be ruled out forever? The knives were drawn Sunday among deeply divided Republicans after the trial of the former US president.
Despite the acquittal verdict, Democrats believe they have achieved a moral and political victory, which finally allows new President Joe Biden to tackle his major issues, primarily his ambitious economic recovery plan.
The “Grand Old Party” is torn apart around the billionaire. With the gaze already on the parliamentary elections of “midterms” in 2022, when the Republicans hope to regain a majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
"My goal is to win in 2022 to end the most radical program that I see coming from the Democratic presidency of Joe Biden, and we cannot do it without Donald Trump", hammered Sunday on the Fox channel News Senator Lindsey Graham, one of his staunchest allies.
Lindsey Graham suggests Kamala Harris will be impeached if Republicans take back the House next year pic.twitter.com/J68Or4k1la
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 14, 2021
"He is ready to go into the countryside" and "I am ready to work with him," he added, confiding that he had spoken to him on Saturday evening and that he planned to meet him at his home in Florida. next week.
The ex-president remains the "most powerful force" in the Republican Party, the "Trump movement is in great shape," said the senator.
Housed in his luxurious Mar-a-Lago, Florida residence, the real estate mogul has kept quiet during his historic Senate trial, where he was accused of instigating the January 6 violence.
But he quickly reacted to his acquittal on Saturday night.
"Our magnificent, historic and patriotic movement, Make America Great Again, has only just begun," wrote the 45th US President, who has not ruled out running for re-election in 2024.
Senators were a majority - 57 out of 100 - to vote for the billionaire's conviction. Including, notably, seven Republicans. But it would have taken two-thirds of the upper house (67 votes) to reach a verdict of guilty, which could have been followed by a sentence of ineligibility.
"Fallen too low"
Among those who acquitted him, influential leader of the Republican senators Mitch McConnell explained that for him the Senate was simply not competent to try him. Before launching a scathing criticism, without appeal, of the former president.
"There is no doubt, no, that President Trump is, in fact and morally, responsible for causing the events of this day" of January 6, he thundered.
This speech "does not represent the sentiment of Republicans", wants to believe Lindsey Graham.
"Battle" for the party
But the powerful Republican leader isn't the only ex-Trump stalwart to sever ties.
His ex-ambassador to the United Nations, and prospective candidate for the 2024 presidential election, Nikki Haley, said the billionaire had fallen "too low" to stand again, in an interview with Politico on Friday.
NEW: GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict former Pres. Trump in his second impeachment trial, explains his decision: "It was clear that he wished that lawmakers be intimidated." https://t.co/DZBFQh5kXW pic.twitter.com/tkJy8Mp4g0
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 14, 2021
Deprived of the White House spotlight and his long-powerful Twitter account, "his strength will wane," Bill Cassidy, one of seven Republicans who voted for his conviction, predicted on ABC Sunday.
Except that this senator is already facing a fierce reaction in his party in Louisiana.
"We are going to see a real battle for the soul of the Republican Party over the next two years," moderate Republican Gov. of Maryland Larry Hogan predicted Sunday on CNN.
"We're going to have a real battle for the soul of the Republican Party."
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) February 14, 2021
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan tells CNN's @JakeTapper he thinks the final chapter of Donald Trump and where the Republican Party goes hasn't been written yet. #CNNSOTU https://t.co/mVKIu6W8KO pic.twitter.com/ibceHLwhaT
"Many Republicans are outraged but do not have the courage to say it, because they are afraid" of losing their elections, he said.
Fear or not, CBS reporter Margaret Brennan said about 20 Republican senators who voted to acquit Donald Trump, invited to speak about the trial on his flagship Sunday show, Face The Nation, all refused.
Donald Trump remains very popular with his constituents and his camp threatens to present "Trumpist" candidates against elected officials of the party that criticized or condemned him.
Faced with this threat, Mitch McConnell, 78, promised to weigh in the next primary.
“Some may be people the ex-president likes. Others may not. The only thing that matters to me is that they can win, "the old politician told Politico.
Faced with these Republican divisions, the Democrats have sought to drive the point home. First among them was Joe Biden, who said that despite the acquittal, the charges against Donald Trump were not "in dispute."
