GOP Trump critics are bracing for Donald Trump Jr. to step into his father's shoes


Sorry, Eric — it looks like Donald Trump Jr. is the son Republicans believe will follow in their father's political footsteps.
HuffPost reports that while many senators are thought to be eyeing the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, including Ted Cruz of Texas, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Trump Jr. appears to be the favorite, despite having zero experience in the political realm prior to his dad's presidency or even saying that he wants to run.
Trump Jr. gets the loudest cheers at events, like at a February rally where the crowd chanted "46!" when he took the stage. "I'd vote for him in a second," Lou Woodward, a New Hampshire resident and supporter of President Trump, told HuffPost. "If he's anything like his father, he'll be fantastic." Trump Jr. has also managed to bring in a lot of money for the Republican Party amid the pandemic, headlining several virtual fundraisers.
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.
The idea of a President Donald Trump Jr. is "bad," John Ryder, a former high-level Republican National Committee member, told HuffPost. "The American public is not attracted to dynasties. I think that would be very, very difficult to make that case to the American people." Rick Wilson, a GOP consultant and Trump critic, told HuffPost that is wishful thinking. "This is the dawn of the age of the imperial Trumps," Wilson said. "He is going to say, 'Donald J. Trump Jr., my son and heir, is the only one who can continue in my footsteps.' They are a dynastic political force now. It's douchebag dynasty of the Trump family."
If Trump is re-elected in November, the GOP will truly become the party of Trump, Republican consultant Stuart Stevens told HuffPost, and he believes that in 2024 "Don Jr. would be the favorite for the nomination." Wilson agreed, and said even Republicans who have fallen lockstep behind Trump won't be able to compete against his eldest child. "It's a hideous landscape of wannabes who will be posting up against the son of God," he said. "Just see what happens. It's a family-centric cult."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
India rejects Trump threat over Russian oil
Speed Read The president said he would raise tariffs on India for buying and selling Russian oil
-
NY's Hochul vows response to Texas gerrymander
Speed Read Gov. Kathy Hochul has promised to play ball with redistricting that favors the Democrats
-
August 5 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Tuesday's political cartoons include an unflattering jobs report, Democrat weakness, and the minimum wage
-
India rejects Trump threat over Russian oil
Speed Read The president said he would raise tariffs on India for buying and selling Russian oil
-
NY's Hochul vows response to Texas gerrymander
Speed Read Gov. Kathy Hochul has promised to play ball with redistricting that favors the Democrats
-
Texas Democrats exit state to block redistricting vote
Speed Read More than 51 legislators fled the state in protest of the GOP's plan to redraw congressional districts
-
Trump criticized for firing BLS chief after jobs report
Speed Read Bureau of Labor Statistics chief Erika McEntarfer oversaw a July jobs report that the president claims was rigged
-
Trump revives K-12 Presidential Fitness Test
Speed Read The Obama administration phased the test out in 2012, replacing it with a program focused on overall health rather than standardized benchmarks
-
El Salvador scraps term limits, boosting Nayib Bukele
Speed Read New constitutional changes will allow presidents to seek reelection an indefinite number of times
-
Trump assigns tariffs, delays all except on Canada
Speed Read A 35% tariff on many Canadian goods has gone into effect
-
Harris rules out run for California governor
Speed Read The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee ended months of speculation about her plans for the contest