Staff Reports
In a surprising twist of events, ex-President Donald Trump is garnering support from Republicans in Congress at an unprecedented rate, amassing endorsements from 30 Senators and over 120 House members. This surge in backing is causing unease among some individuals on Capitol Hill.
The pressure is mounting on top Republicans who have yet to formally endorse Trump. Following the former president's rejection of a resolution by the Republican National Committee that aimed to designate him as the GOP's presumptive nominee for 2024, House and Senate leaders are feeling compelled to support their party's primary choice.
In the House, the Trump wave is sweeping through. House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-VA) joined the fray after Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) suspended his presidential campaign and threw his support behind Trump. Good expressed on social media, "President Trump was the greatest President of my lifetime, and we need him to reinstate the policies that were working so well for America." It appears that the majority of House Republicans are aligning with Trump, with fewer than 100 yet to declare their support for the former president.
However, not everyone is embracing the Trump bandwagon. Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT), Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, and Rep. James Comer (R-KY), chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, are adopting a more reserved stance. Despite previously endorsing Trump in 2020, Comer has not officially endorsed the former president, even as he leads a robust investigation into President Joe Biden and his family's business. The pressure is on for these Republicans, and the Washington Examiner has sought comments from their offices.
The Senate is no stranger to drama. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is making headlines for abstaining from the Trump endorsement game. McConnell stated to reporters that he has "stayed essentially out of it," and when questioned about his position, he cryptically replied, "When I change my mind about that, I'll let you know." The dynamic between McConnell and Trump, especially after McConnell acknowledged Biden's victory in the 2020 election, adds an extra layer of suspense.
McConnell is not the only one playing hard to get. Sen. John Thune (R-SD), the conference's No. 2 leader, has also refrained from endorsing the former president, indicating he would "support the nominee" if Trump secures the ticket. The Washington Examiner is attempting to elicit responses from these senators, but it appears that this political intrigue is far from reaching its conclusion.
Amidst the political tension and suspense, Capitol Hill seems like the stage for the next episode of "Reality Show: GOP Edition." Will Trump gather even more endorsements? Will McConnell and Thune finally make their move? As the plot thickens, anticipation grows for how this Trump-centric saga will unfold.
