The calculation is that the party will be better off in the 2022 midterm elections embracing fmr. Pres. Trump than running from him, even if it means further alienating a group of voters who were key to Democratic victories in 2018 and 2020.
Many Republicans, including McCarthy, have decided that the path to retake majority control of the House requires embracing Trump, which means either repeating his false assertions that the election was stolen or keeping quiet,McCarthy has long viewed Trump as important to helping him become the next House speaker — and important to helping Republicans win the midterm elections — said a House Republican aide who works for neither McCarthy or Cheney.
Another senior Republican congressional aide argued that Cheney was likely to be removed because she keeps publicly disagreeing with McCarthy, not because of her criticism of Trump. But such a move could also fuel criticism that the Republican Party has become more concerned about allegiance to Trump than policy positions or ideology. Stefanik, who went to Congress as a moderate, has been an outspoken Trump booster, echoing his groundless claims about election illegitimacy.
Jason Miller, a Trump adviser, said Cheney's cause was hurt by her foreign policy views, including her support for keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan, which diverges from those of Trump, who tried to depict himself as opposing foreign interventions in line with his"America first" policies. "Her blasphemy is that she dare admit the truth that Trump lost the election," said Jeff Timmer, former chair of the Michigan GOP, who backed Joe Biden last fall."There is no room for any disagreement."
Another Republican strategist argued that Cheney may have the opportunity to build up support within the caucus and lead a faction that could become a thorn in McCarthy's side.
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