How Trump could start a GOP circular firing squad

Only one of the statements Trump issued on Tuesday took particular aim at the Democrats, chiding President Biden for his management of Afghanistan and the pandemic. He devoted most of his energy to intraparty fights involving himself personally, raising concerns that a circular firing squad could prevent the GOP from making anticipated gains in next year’s midterm elections.

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Trump has also yet to lift a finger on behalf of more thoughtful populist candidates like J.D. Vance and Blake Masters, running for Senate seats in Ohio and Arizona, respectively. He has mentioned policy in some of these missives, calling Toomey’s views on trade “archaic” and blasting Rep. Liz Cheney as a “warmonger.” But for Trump, the political has often been the personal.

Republicans clearly appreciate Trump’s attitude. The jury is still out on how on board they are with the full populist program — and whether that, rather than the aforementioned combativeness, is really the Trumpism that could outlive Trump’s political career.

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