Former President Donald Trump is once again the center of attention in the Republican Party. After the bruising results of the midterm elections in November, Trump has regained his footing.
While he is not a huge favorite to win the nomination in the GOP race for president, he is now in a stronger position. Moreover, the fact that many big names in the party are planning to run for president also strengthens Trump’s hand.
Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley is set to enter the race. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is close to doing the same thing.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, Senator Tim Scott, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are reportedly running for the highest office in the land.
The large field looks like a repeat of the 2016 Republican primary. Mr. Trump would have had more trouble beating DeSantis in a two-person race.
Moreover, Trump also remains in control for his willingness to go places where the other candidates would never. For example, his refusal to be fully behind the GOP nominee in 2024 if it is not him.
In an interview with Hugh Hewitt, Trump would not commit to backing the Republican candidate for president if he does not get the nomination.
He stated: “It would have to depend on who the nominee was.” The business mogul used similar tactics in 2016 and 2020. After losing the presidency against Joe Biden, Trump embarked on a never-ending campaign about the election being rigged.
When other Republican candidates were ahead in the polls during the 2016 primary, he said the process was not fair and even teased a potential run as an independent.
In 2016, he pushed aside a previous pledge to support the nominee. He said at the time: “No, I don’t anymore.No; we’ll see who it is.”
This kind of behavior differs from traditional politicians, and this plays to Trump’s advantage. The contrast could not be more apparent with former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, who is thinking about running for president.
Hogan could not give a clear answer and had to walk back his initial statement on the issue. The so-called moderate Republican told Hewitt: “Yeah, I just don’t think [Trump will] be the nominee, but I’ll support the nominee.”
He walked back the comment on Twitter after causing a firestorm. He wrote: “To be clear, my position on Trump hasn’t changed. Trump won’t commit to supporting the Republican nominee, and I won’t commit to supporting him.”
In 2020, Hogan said he voted for Ronald Reagan because he did not want to support Trump or Biden.
The former president is always Trump or bust, but other politicians in the GOP are always trying to have it both ways in their support of him.
The upcoming months will probably reinforce that narrative.
