Republicans are splintering over Trump at the RNC, Details Here- As the Republican National Committee (RNC) gathers for its winter meeting, some party leaders are attempting to move the GOP’s attention away from steadfast support to former President Donald Trump and toward concerns such as inflation and parental rights.
As Republican officials convened in Salt Lake City, Utah, to chart a direction for the party as the 2022 midterm elections approach, the party’s fault lines were evident. Some GOP leaders have said that instead of becoming entangled in the feuds of the former president, who remains popular with huge sectors of the party, the party should focus on measures to extend its appeal.
Others at the conference expressed dissatisfaction with Trump’s never-ending list of grievances. Some have pointed to Republican Glenn Youngkin’s victory over former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe in the governor’s election last year as a model for the future. Voters, according to an anonymous state party chairman, prefer candidates who talk about “about tomorrow, not yesterday.”
Trump made a statement earlier this week urging the House Select Committee investigating the 2021 Capitol riot to focus on former Vice President Mike Pence for failing to return Electoral College ballots to state legislatures.
However, Trump’s weight in the party continues to grow, as evidenced by his endorsements around the country and the fact that he has pushed out candidates in Ohio in favour of his “MAGA Ticket.”
His presence was felt at the meeting as well. Representatives Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois were censured by the Republican National Committee on Friday for their participation in the January 6 committee.
The pair of Republican legislators “are participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse,” according to the resolution seen by The New York Times. Their actions were also described as “has been destructive to the institution of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Republican Party and our republic.”
Senators Mitt Romney and Bill Cassidy, both members of the Republican Party, spoke out against the censure.
On Thursday, Cheney and Kinzinger reacted to the reprimand by saying they stood by their decision to serve on the committee.
“If the price of being willing, to tell the truth, and get to the bottom of what happened on January 6…is a censure,” Cheney told reporters, ” then I am absolutely going to continue to stand up for what I know is right,” Kinzinger’s retort was posted on Twitter: “I have no regrets about my decision to uphold my oath of office and defend the Constitution. I will continue to focus my efforts on standing for truth and working to fight the political matrix that’s led us to where we find ourselves today.”
While Trump isn’t going away, there is clear evidence that his power within the Republican Party is eroding. Only 36% of Republican-leaning voters said they supported the former president more than the GOP in an NBC News survey conducted last month, down 18 points from the eve of the 2020 election.