‘Live by Trump, you die by Trump’: Republicans wake to a new truth as red wave fails to break on America
Though his name was not on a single ballot in the midterm vote, ex-president will be seen as the big loser
Donald Trump was reportedly “livid” and blaming everyone, including his wife Melania, as his bid to reclaim the White House was thrown into disarray yesterday. Some advisers were urging him to postpone his plan to declare his candidacy on Nov 15 at Mar-a-lago, Florida, although doing so could be seen as an admission of defeat, and was highly unlikely.
Mr Trump was said to be particularly annoyed by the loss of Mehmet Oz, the television doctor whom he backed in the Pennsylvania Senate race. New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman wrote on Twitter: “Trump is indeed furious this morning, particularly about television doctor Mehmet Oz, and is blaming everyone who advised him to back Mr Oz – including his wife, describing it as not her best decision, according to people close to him.”
Mr Trump later admitted the results had been “somewhat disappointing” overall but still represented a success for candidates he backed.
He said: “While in certain ways yesterday’s election was somewhat disappointing, from my personal standpoint it was a very big victory – 219 WINS and 16 losses ... who has ever done better than that?”
However, an adviser told CNN the former president was “livid” and “screaming at everybody”. A spokesman for Mr Trump later denied the reports saying they were “completely fake” and he had “won overwhelmingly at the ballot box”.
Instead of celebrating a “red wave” of new Republicans, the party now faces a destructive internecine struggle over Mr Trump’s role, and whether he should be the nominee in 2024. Even though his name was not on any ballot this week, he was the biggest loser as many of the candidates he backed, and who had backed him by denying the validity of the 2020 presidential election result, ended up being rejected by the voters.
David Urban, a Republican strategist and former adviser to Mr Trump, said: “Every Republican in America this morning is waking up sick to their stomach. Live by Trump, die by Trump.”
Party insiders were privately incensed with Mr Trump after his poor choice of candidates cost key races.
As the crucial but tight Senate race in Georgia seemed set to head to a runoff on Dec 6, Republican officials were looking for ways to stop Mr Trump campaigning in the state, fearing he will alienate independent voters.
Herschel Walker, the former American football star who Mr Trump backed in Georgia, was plagued by scandal and secured fewer votes than the sitting Democrat, Raphael Warnock. Geoff Duncan, the Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia, said: “I can’t imagine anybody would think that Donald Trump would be a tailwind to Herschel Walker’s campaign in a runoff scenario. I can’t imagine anyone doing that calculus, except one person – Donald Trump.”
Mr Trump himself was said to be
particularly irate at the Pennsylvania Senate result where Mr Oz lost to Democrat John Fetterman, even though he was unable to campaign extensively after a stroke.
Meanwhile, a Republican source told Fox News: “If it wasn’t clear before it should be now. We have a Trump problem.”
Alyssa Farah Griffin, former strategist in the Trump White House, said: “If you want the Republican party to thrive we’ve got to finally speak out and say this man is a loser. He lost 2020. He’s losing us seats that are winnable this time.”
Other Republican officials suggested a “pivot” and that Mr Trump should now be in the “rear view mirror”.
Across the country it appeared the
Republican share of the vote underperformed the party’s overall average where the candidate had been endorsed by Mr Trump. That was taken as evidence his candidates, and the former president himself, had dragged down the party’s performance.
Before results came in Mr Trump had rejected any suggestion he should be blamed. He said: “If they win I should get all the credit. And if they lose, I should not be blamed at all.”
In addition to Ron Desantis, others may now feel emboldened.
The rejection of many candidates who denied the 2020 election result could encourage White House runs by Republicans who have split with Mr Trump over the issue, including his former vice president Mike Pence.