While Republican Sen. Ben Sasse (Neb.) has earned praise from both sides of the aisle for his brazen attacks on Donald Trump, Politico reports that he's also been losing some of his supporters because of his outspokenness. Party elites and Nebraska constituents alike are calling foul on Sasse's claim that the open letter he posted on Facebook, which tore into Trump and suggested Sasse would support a third-party candidate, had nothing to do "with political posturing." Sasse's critics contend that his frank stance is actually about his plans to ascend the political ladder — and possibly even launch a presidential run in the near future.
"It's forced and somewhat contrived for somebody who doesn't have much to show … to all of a sudden be the darling of certain corners of the political spectrum for simply being the guy who says, 'Don't vote for Donald Trump,'" said David Kramer, a former Nebraska GOP chairman who supported Sasse in the general election in 2014. Former Nebraska GOP congressman Hal Daub says Sasse's recent moves "leave some in Nebraska wondering if he just isn't in too big of a hurry."
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.
-
Will divisions over trans issue derail Keir Starmer's government?Today's Big Question Rebellion is brewing following the Supreme Court's ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex under equality law
-
Why UK scientists are trying to dim the SunIn The Spotlight The UK has funded controversial geoengineering techniques that could prove helpful in slowing climate change
-
Gandhi arrests: Narendra Modi's 'vendetta' against India's oppositionThe Explainer Another episode threatens to spark uproar in the Indian PM's long-running battle against the country's first family
-
Musk vows DOGE pullback as Tesla profits plungeSpeed Read The Tesla SEO says he will soon step back from government matters to devote more time to the company
-
IMF sees slump from tariffs, Trump tries to calm marketsSpeed Read The International Monetary Fund predicts the U.S. and global economies will slow significantly due to the president's trade war
-
DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse stolen from eaterySpeed Read Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse was stolen while she dined with family at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
-
Trump stands by Hegseth amid ouster reportsSpeed Read The president dismissed reports that he was on the verge of firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a second national security breach
-
Hegseth reportedly shared war plans in 2nd group textSpeed Read The defense secretary sent information about an attack in Yemen to a Signal group chat that included his wife and brother
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contemptSpeed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cutsSpeed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deporteeSpeed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
