Several “long-standing” elected Republican lawmakers are secretly hoping that the party’s nominee, former President Donald Trump, is defeated in the upcoming presidential election.
According to Politico’s Playbook on Wednesday some within the GOP are keen to move on from the Trump era, even if they’d never admit it publicly – and, according to the outlet, it’s not just the usual “Never Trump” crowd.
Key individuals that have relayed their concerns in confidence include free-marketeers concerned about Trump’s tariff idea, pro-life lawmakers disconcerted by the former president’s pro-choice remarks and defense hawks worried about his stance on NATO.
One conservative leader told Playbook: “There’s a lot of anxiety about what Trump does to Republican ability to win in 2028 — and what he also may do to the party in terms of policy long-term. There is just this concern that like, ‘OK, if the party just goes in that direction, then what kind of party is it going forward? And can conservatives, then, have a home going forward?’”
In a new column, Politico reporter Jonathan Martin wrote: “the best possible outcome in November for the future of the Republican Party is for Donald Trump to lose and lose soundly.”
He added: “GOP leaders won’t tell you that on the record. I just did.”
