After a succession of self-destructive missteps by the former president, Senate Republicans who want to move on from Donald Trump are sniffing blood. They believe GOP competitors may fight and beat him in a 2024 presidential primary.
After his erratic behavior in recent weeks, GOP lawmakers say Trump looks increasingly vulnerable in a primary and doubts about his ability to defeat President Biden or any other Democrat in a general election.
Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) said Trump's latest self-inflicted wound—talking about suspending the Constitution—creates "a great opportunity" for other Republicans
“This was another level of what the previous president stated. "This one goes so far beyond the pale that if there is somebody who has aspirations to run, this sure teed it up," Thune said.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who seldom criticizes Trump, said Trump "would have a very hard time" getting sworn in again if he doesn't support honoring the Constitution for a second time in a week.
“Anyone seeking the presidency who believes that the Constitution could somehow be suspended or not obeyed, it seems to me, would have a very hard time being sworn in as president of the United States,” McConnell told reporters Tuesday.
In reaction to a news regarding Twitter's 2020 election content moderation conversations, Trump offered to "terminate" all "rules, regulations, and articles, including those included in the Constitution" over the weekend.
The former president scored that own goal while being criticized for hosting a dinner at Mar-a-Lago with white supremacist Nick Fuentes and Kanye West, who has made antisemitic remarks.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), a Trump friend, called Trump's statements about suspending the Constitution and meeting with Fuentes "fatal" to his political ambitions.