Trump urges 2024 launch delay after GOP’s uneven election – The Hollywood Reporter

It is believed to be a red wave that former President Donald Trump could win to secure the Republican nomination as he prepares to launch another run for the White House.

Instead, Tuesday night’s disappointing results for the GOP are raising new questions about Trump’s appeal and the future of a party that has fully embraced him, seemingly at a peril. while giving new impetus to his most potential rival.

Indeed, some allies have called on Trump to delay his planned announcement next week, saying the party’s entire focus needs to be on Georgia, where football is backed by Trump’s Herschel effort. Walker to overthrow the Democratic Senator. Raphael Warnock is heading for a flow that could define Senate control once again.

“I would advise him that he relay his announcement until after the flow in Georgia,” said former Trump adviser Jason Miller, who spent the night with the former president at the Mar-a club- Lago in Florida said. “Georgia needs to be the focus of every Republican in the country right now,” he said.

Trump has sought to use the midterms as an opportunity to demonstrate his enduring political influence after losing the White House in 2020. He endorsed more than 330 candidates in up and down leaf races. votes, often elevating candidates who are inexperienced and deeply flawed. He reveled in their first victories. But many of their views, including repeating Trump’s lies about a stolen 2020 election and adopting a hardline stance on abortion, have fallen out of favor with politics.

Trump picked up some big wins on Tuesday, notably in Ohio, where he was selected to the Senate, where “Hillbilly Elegy” author J.D. Vance came to an easy victory after his endorsement. Trump brought him before a crowded preliminary group. In North Carolina, Representative Ted Budd, an original Trump pick, kept an open Senate seat in the hands of the GOP.

But Trump lost some of the biggest prizes of the night, particularly in Pennsylvania, where Dr. Mehmet Oz, who narrowly won the Senate primaries with Trump’s backing, lost to Democrat John Fetterman. Trump-backed candidates also lost governor races in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Maryland, and a Senate race in New Hampshire, though Trump appeared to celebrate the latter, beating Republicans. Dan Bolduc for trying to moderate his stance by backing the election of a lying Mr. Trump.

“If he stays strong and true, he will win easily,” Trump said on his social media. “Lessons Learned !!!” (Trump also cheered the loss of Colorado Republican Senate hopeful Joe O’Dea, who said he thought it was time for the party to leave Trump.)

Other high-stakes races in Arizona and Nevada are still too early to call.

Indeed, the biggest Republican win of the night came in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis set out for re-election, cementing his status as a rising Republican star as he saw potential. its capacity by 2024.

“I’ve only just started fighting,” he told supporters during his victory speech.

While Republicans still appear to be well positioned to topple the House and eventually capture the Senate, those who once believed that frustration with record inflation, combined with acceptance ratings President Joe Biden’s low approval rating will bring a quick and decisive victory that has indicated the finger in the direction of the president. The message of the night, they argued: The American people want to move forward.

“I mean, we had a historic opportunity and Trump’s hiring of unelected candidates blew it away for us,” said Scott Reed, a veteran Republican strategist. . “Trump has now lost three consecutive Republican elections and it’s time to get out of this stupidity.”

Reed argued that the party “had everything for us: money, problem agendas, Biden was in the tank,” but said Trump’s attempt to keep himself in focus by teasing a run in the final stretch of the race “obviously worked a lot of independents and Democrats turned out to vote.”

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a longtime friend of Trump and critic of the adviser who is considering running for president of his own in 2024, said Republicans “have a decision to make a decision.” basic to offer”.

“We lost in 18. We lost in 20. We lost in 21 in Georgia. And now in 22 we will lose the net governorship, we won’t get the House seats we thought we will and we may not win the Senate even though a president has 40% of the votes. endorse the job,” he said. “There’s only one person to blame for that and that’s Donald Trump.”

He blamed Trump for choosing flawed candidates who won the primaries but struggled in the general election.

“The only dynamic factor (for him) in determining approval is ‘Do you believe the 2020 election was stolen or not? “Christie said. “Not, ‘Can you raise funds?’ It’s not, ‘Do you have a clear vision for the future of your state or county?’ It is not evidence of past success in communicating with voters. It is a completely self-centered determination.”

Meanwhile, Trump insisted publicly that he was satisfied with the results.

“Although in some ways yesterday’s election was somewhat disappointing, in my personal opinion it was a huge win – 219 WINS and 16 Overall Loss – Who ever did better position?” he wrote on his social network Truth on Wednesday afternoon.

His spokesman Taylor Budowich also introduced Trump’s endorsement record and said, “As President Trump looks to the future, he will continue to support his America First agenda won. overwhelming victory at the ballot box last night.”

But Republican strategist David Urban, a former Trump adviser, said the Trump brand would hurt no matter what the former president said.

“Of course, he will claim victory, right? The President introduced a track record of achievements including victories in uncontrolled races. He can say whatever he wants. But how do people feel in America? I think people don’t feel great about the Trump brand right now,” Urban said. “So bad.”

Some now worry that if Trump goes ahead with his planned announcement next week, he could pave the way to restarting 2021 Republican losses in Georgia by taking the upper hand. in the race.

Former Trump press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who now works for Fox News, advised on television that Trump should delay an announcement until after the Georgia Senate withdraws.

“I think he needs to pause it,” she said. When asked if Trump should campaign in the state, she said: “I think we have to think strategically. Governor DeSantis, I think he should be welcomed to the state, given what happened last night. You have to look at the reality on the ground. “

Budowich did not respond to a question about such efforts, but Trump appeared to pour cold water on the advice.

“We had great success,” he told Fox News Digital Friday. “Why did everything change?”

Meanwhile, Trump’s defeat has given new hope to a long list of potential opponents, who have been quietly waiting on the flanks and now face the decision of whether to run.

That includes DeSantis, who has emerged as the clear winner of the night. The New York Post declared: “DeFUTURE”. In addition to his widespread victory, DeSantis took home the Democratic stronghold of Miami-Dade, and did so without Trump’s endorsement. (Though Trump did tell reporters he voted for governor days after insulting him as “Ron DeSanctimonious.”)

“DeSantis came out of the election with a lot of momentum,” said GOP strategist Alex Conant. “Trump has been weak for a long time but it is not clear who will replace him. … For the first time, Trump actually has a formidable opponent in the party. “

Even some Democrats acknowledge DeSantis’ strength.

Miami-based Democratic strategist Jose Parra said Trump’s opponent entered the 2024 conversation with “a headwind” after a stronger-than-expected performance across the state – especially especially in Miami-Dade County south of Florida.

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Biden said his “intention” is to run for re-election. But noting the emerging rivalry between Trump and DeSantis, he said it would be “fun to watch them play against each other.”