Jeb Bush says he won't vote for Donald Trump as Republican leaders split over the nominee


Donald Trump may be the GOP's sole remaining candidate for the presidential nomination, but that doesn't mean top Republicans are full-throatedly embracing him. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced in a Facebook post Friday that he would not vote for Trump because he has not shown the "temperament or strength of character" required in a president. He also added that Trump is "not a consistent conservative" and "has not displayed a respect for the Constitution." Bush, once considered the frontrunner of the GOP primary race, clarified that he would not be casting a vote for Hillary Clinton, though he did say he would advocate for down-ballot Republicans.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also announced Friday that he could not "in good conscience" support Trump's bid for the White House. Graham, who dropped out of the presidential race in December, has been famously hard on Trump. Trump promptly issued a response to the senator: "While I will unify the party, Lindsey Graham has shown himself to be beyond rehabilitation. And like the voters who rejected him, so will I!"
Bush and Graham join House Speaker Paul Ryan as top-tier Republicans who have withheld their support from Trump. Bush's father and brother, both former presidents, have also declined to issue an endorsement of Trump — though Bush 43's former vice president, Dick Cheney, told CNN on Friday that he has always supported the GOP nominee and would do the same for Trump.
Subscribe to 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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
Crossword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff
-
Musk vows DOGE pullback as Tesla profits plunge
Speed Read The Tesla SEO says he will soon step back from government matters to devote more time to the company
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
IMF sees slump from tariffs, Trump tries to calm markets
Speed Read The International Monetary Fund predicts the U.S. and global economies will slow significantly due to the president's trade war
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse stolen from eatery
Speed Read Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse was stolen while she dined with family at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump stands by Hegseth amid ouster reports
Speed Read The president dismissed reports that he was on the verge of firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a second national security breach
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Hegseth reportedly shared war plans in 2nd group text
Speed Read The defense secretary sent information about an attack in Yemen to a Signal group chat that included his wife and brother
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US