You are well aware of the “Never Trumpers,” a rump Republican party that has railed against former President Donald Trump and the damage he has caused to the GOP.
Meet the “Never-Again Trumpers” right now.
In a weekend interview with ABC News, former House Speaker Paul Ryan portrayed himself in that way. He stated the following:
“I’m particularly thrilled about the judges we got on the bench, not only the Supreme Court but throughout the judiciary. I’m proud of the accomplishments [under the Trump administration] — of the tax reform, the deregulation, and the criminal justice reform. I am, however, a Never-Again Trumper. Why? because Trump makes us lose, and I want to win. We could fully understand it in 2018, 2020, and now in 2022.
Ryan, who resigned from Congress in 2019, has become more vocal about his opinions on Trump and the direction of the Republican Party.
He stated on Fox Business Network in late October that the “suburban voter is the new swing voter in American politics, and it’s absolutely evident that the suburban voter doesn’t like Trump, but they prefer Republicans.” So I think anyone who isn’t named Trump, I think, is so much more likely to win the White House for us, he continued.
(It’s important to note that, according to national exit polls, Trump narrowly defeated Joe Biden in the suburban vote in 2020 after narrowly defeating Hillary Clinton in 2016. Republicans won suburban voters in the 2022 midterm elections by a margin of 52% to 46%.)
Additionally, Ryan harshly criticised members of the GOP who didn’t support the vote to impeach Trump in 2021 back in June at a luncheon for South Carolina GOP Rep. Tom Rice. When it becomes difficult to follow their convictions, he noted, “There are many individuals who say they’re going to vote their conscience, the Constitution, or their convictions, but they don’t do it.” (Rice later lost the Republican primary in his area to a rival supported by Trump.)
Trump has already attacked Ryan, as he often does. After Ryan made a speech in which he suggested the party needed to move past the former president, Trump said in a statement that having Ryan on your side “almost guarantees a loss, for both you, the Party, and America itself.”
Despite the criticism, Ryan’s viewpoint on Trump is an intriguing one. It acknowledges the past president’s accomplishments while implying that he is neither the GOP’s present nor its future.
Which is where I believe some of Trump’s more credible opponents in 2024 will settle. For instance, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis would be wise to share Ryan’s perspective and acknowledge Trump’s accomplishments as president while also emphasising that it would be a mistake for Republicans to nominate him for reelection at this time.
Ryan’s stance as a “Never-Again Trumper” is based on something that I frequently wonder why isn’t given more consideration: Trump’s win-loss record.
Trump famously boasted, “We are going to start winning again and we are going to win so much,” but in reality, he has become much more associated with losing since the 2016 election. Republicans lost control of the House and Senate during Trump’s administration. In 2022, Republicans did win back control of the House, but their victory was much closer than anticipated. Additionally, Democrats were able to maintain their slim Senate majority despite several Trump-backed candidates losing crucial elections.
That blatant lack of success appears to be Trump’s weak point as he seeks to garner support for his third run for the presidency. DeSantis also seems to be taking action to take advantage of it. In response to his detractors, DeSantis said: “I would just tell people to go check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night.” This came after a resounding victory this month.
DeSantis might also be a proponent of the “Never Again Trump” movement.
