GOP leaders silent on Trump's call for 'termination' of the Constitution
Former President Donald Trump suggested Saturday morning that Twitter's 2020 decision to restrict a story about Hunter Biden's stolen laptop entitles him to either be declared president or get an electoral do-over, claiming a "massive fraud" of this magnitude "allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution."
Republicans who have already broken with their party over its support for Trump were quick to condemn the former president and ask why Republican leaders have stayed silent on what The Washington Post calls "a significant escalation in his attacks on American institutions and democratic norms" that "must be heeded as a sign of how far he is willing to go to regain power."
The Atlantic's Ron Brownstein suggested these Republican have a point.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"This is what kills my party right now," former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, a Republican who is considering a 2024 presidential campaign against Trump, told ABC's This Week.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has not put out a statement and declined the Post's request for comment, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the odds-on favorite to be House speaker next Congress, "was not asked about Trump's remarks in an appearance on Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo but was sympathetic to the underlying assertions at the heart of Trump's attack" on Big Tech, Politico reports.
A handful of lesser-known Republican lawmakers did denounce Trump's comments on constitutional "termination" on the Sunday news programs, but none of them seemed excited about discussing the post and "most still hesitated to say that they would oppose Trump if he becomes the GOP's 2024 presidential nominee," the Post reports.
The White House, for its part, quickly condemned Trump's comment. "You cannot only love America when you win," spokesman Andrew Bates said Saturday. "Attacking the Constitution and all it stands for is anathema to the soul of our nation."
Incoming House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told This Week he thought Trump made "a strange statement, but the Republicans are going to have to work out their issues with the former president and decide whether they're going to break from him and return to some semblance of reasonableness or continue to lean into the extremism, not just of Trump, but of Trumpism."
-
The elite falcon trade in the Middle EastUnder the Radar Popularity of the birds of prey has been ‘soaring’ despite doubts over the legality of sourcing and concerns for animal welfare
-
A running list of the international figures Donald Trump has pardonedin depth The president has grown bolder in flexing executive clemency powers beyond national borders
-
Mixed nuts: RFK Jr.’s new nutrition guidelines receive uneven reviewsTalking Points The guidelines emphasize red meat and full-fat dairy
-
A running list of the international figures Donald Trump has pardoned
in depth The president has grown bolder in flexing executive clemency powers beyond national borders
-
Trump pulls US from key climate pact, other bodiesSpeed Read The White House removed dozens of organizations from US participation
-
What is the Donroe Doctrine?The Explainer Donald Trump has taken a 19th century US foreign policy and turbocharged it
-
A running list of the US government figures Donald Trump has pardonedin depth Clearing the slate for his favorite elected officials
-
‘Space is one of the few areas of bipartisan agreement in Washington’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump fears impeachment if GOP loses midtermsSpeed Read ‘You got to win the midterms,’ the president said
-
Nicolás Maduro: from bus driver to Venezuela’s presidentIn the Spotlight Shock capture by US special forces comes after Maduro’s 12-year rule proved that ‘underestimating him was a mistake’
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
