The Memo: Never Trumpers sinks into gloom as Gonzalez bows out

The gloom among Never Trump Republicans worsens this weekend, following Thursday’s announcement from Rep. Anthony GonzálezAnthony GonzalezKinzinger Says Trump ‘Wins’ Because So Many Republicans ‘Have Been Silent’ (R-Ohio) that he won’t be running again.

Gonzalez is one of 10 House Republicans to vote for Trump’s impeachment earlier this year. He faced a main challenge from Max Miller, a former Trump aide who had received the approval of the former president.

As Gonzalez prepared to head for political exit, he lambasted Trump as a “cancer” of the nation in an interview with The New York Times.

Trump, in turn, welcomed the disappearance of his critic, issuing two statements in as many hours.

He first referred to Gonzalez as “RINO” (Republican in name only) and said Ohioan had suffered “a huge loss of popularity” as a result of his impeachment vote. The second e-mail statement read in full: “1 broken down, 9 to go!” “

The danger, from the perspective of Trump’s critics, is that the former president is right. The few Republicans remaining in his sights for showing insufficient loyalty may well be cut off.

Trump’s most prominent enemy in Congress, Rep. Liz cheneyElizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyKinzinger Says Trump “Wins” Because So Many Republicans “Have Been Silent” “Justice for J6” rally puts GOP in awkward position Trump emboldened targets GOP enemies MORE (R-Wyo.), Faces a tough primary battle. Trump recently backed lawyer Harriet Hageman, one of several pro-Trump Republicans vying to oust Cheney.

A similar dynamic is facing other Republicans who voted for impeachment. Trump has approved a main challenger to the Rep. Jaime Herrera BeutlerJaime Lynn Herrera BeutlerKinzinger says Trump “wins” because so many Republicans “have remained silent” Far-right rally draws small crowd, large police presence on Capitol Hill Republicans stand away from “Justice for D6” rally MORE (R-Washing.). representing Adam kinzingerAdam Daniel KinzingerKinzinger Says Trump “Wins” Because So Many Republicans “Have Been Silent” “Justice for J6” rally puts GOP in awkward position Trump emboldened targets GOP enemies MORE (R-Ill.), A vocal critic of Trump, will also face an uphill battle if he is to retain his seat.

Former Rep. Barbara comstockBarbara Jean ComstockSunday shows preview: States face the fallout from Ida; Texas abortion law goes into effect The Memo: Trump dumps his gas on tribalism with January 6 rewrite (R-Va.), Who lost his seat in the increasingly Democratic northern suburb of Virginia in 2018, complained that the switch to Trumpian candidates will be costly for the GOP.

“Trump doesn’t care if Republicans win. It’s not about winning Republicans, ”she said. “Trumpism is about revenge.”

Comstock cited the governor of California. Gavin NewsomGavin Newsom Democrats looks at vaccination mandates ahead of midterm Republicans caught in California recall trap Two of Newsom’s four children test positive for COVID-19 PLUS(D) ‘s easy victory in a recall election on Tuesday as proof of where this strategy would ultimately lead.

Newsom won in part because the Republican most likely to replace him was right-wing radio host Larry Elder, who has a history of inflammatory commentary on gender, climate change and a number of other issues.

“Look at what happened in California – how did Trumpism fare? Comstock asked. “Having ridiculous candidates like Larry Elder – unreliable people – is not a long-term gain strategy for the party.”

Comstock, contrary to some critics of Trump, remains a Republican. She believes the former president’s approach will have a limited lifespan as its electoral implications become clear.

But others aren’t so sure, especially as they grapple with their disappointment over Gonzalez’s announcement. The second-term congressman, who is Cuban-American and a former college football star, would have had a bright future in a party less dominated by Trump.

But his impeachment vote has instead been called disloyalty among loyal Republicans – an accusation that can bring real danger in its wake.

Gonzalez spoke in his interview with The New York Times of traveling to Cleveland Airport with his family to be greeted by two uniformed police officers tasked with providing additional security after his impeachment vote.

Former Rep. Charlie dentCharles (Charlie) Wieder DentThe Memo: What now for the anti-Trump Republicans? Influential Republicans threaten to form new party Loyalty trumps politics of Stefanik’s rise, Cheney’s downfall MORE (R-Pa.), Who retired towards the end of his seventh term in 2018, told this column that Gonzalez’s treatment was “disturbing.”

“The guy who called for the insurgency, and the president’s appalling behavior back then, is the one who was sent to the pasture,” Dent lamented. “Again, we are punishing the firefighter rather than the arsonist. “

The voices of Never Trump are, of course, a minority within a party whose voters still overwhelmingly view the former president as their leader. If Trump runs again in 2024, he would clearly be the frontrunner to win the GOP nomination – although he remains highly unpopular in the country as a whole.

Occasional cracks in Trump’s political armor among Republicans – such as a defeat for Susan Wright, the candidate he backed in a special election in Texas in July – did not translate into a wider weakening of his power.

This leaves his critics of the GOP unsure of the best way forward from here.

Olivia Troye, a former advisor to then-Vice President Pence, who made her criticisms of the Trump administration public shortly before the 2020 election, said she “can’t blame” Gonzalez for his decision, given the pressure on him and other dissidents.

She added: “I hope people rally around Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, Jaime Herrera Beutler and the rest of the Nine. They are going through a very difficult time and they made a sacrifice – they chose our country and our Constitution over their party and the madman. “

But Lucy Caldwell, a strategist who served as the former Rep’s campaign manager. Joe walshJoe Walsh’s The Memo: Never Trumpers goes dark as Gonzalez bows out(R-Ill.) ‘S main pipe dream of 2020 for Trump, said there were now people on the Never Trump camp who believed the GOP was unrecoverable.

“It is terrible for the Republican Party to see someone beaten up for not having passed the litmus test enough,” Caldwell said. “Absolute loyalty is required. It’s terrible, but it’s also exactly what we said is going to happen.

The Memo is a column published by Niall Stanage.