Former President Donald Trump continues to enjoy widespread support from Republican voters and near-unwavering loyalty from conservative elected officials—even the ones who decried him during his 2016 campaign.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said in 2016 that if the GOP nominated Trump, it would get "destroyed" and "deserve it," but was making calls on Trump's behalf to swing the state of Georgia in the former President's favor only four years later. Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas called Trump a "pathological liar" and a "narcissist" only to become one of his most loyal supporters. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley vocally condemned Trump on the 2016 campaign trail for not disavowing white supremacists, but agreed to serve in his administration the very next year.
But there's still a small faction of Republicans willing to condemn the former President, and some of them are buying ads to highlight the hypocrisy of some of his most fervent supporters.
The Republican Accountability Project recently released an ad accusing some of Trump's most notable allies of "partisan derangement syndrome," a play on the "Trump derangement syndrome" diagnosis Trump's supporters often use to dismiss his critics.
Watch below.
Are you or is someone you love suffering from Partisan Derangement Syndrome? pic.twitter.com/WQLDc9RO9N
— The Republican Accountability Project (@AccountableGOP) March 14, 2022
The ad, which is just over a minute, highlights comments made by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and Trump's ex-Attorney General Bill Barr, with each man highlighting Trump's culpability in the deadly failed insurrection against the U.S. Capitol, as well as his delusional belief the 2020 election was "stolen" from him.
It then shows footage of McConnell, Christie, and Barr all saying they'd be willing to vote for Trump again, should he run for the presidency in 2024.
An actor featured in the commercial, as she takes her microphone off, says at the end:
"Didn't Bill Barr just say verbatim that [Trump]'s out of touch with reality? And then they want to give him the nuclear codes? Like, what the f**k?"
Social media users joined the Republican Accountability Project in calling them out.
This commercial nails the insanity of Republicans who simultaneously say Trump is dangerous and they’ll vote for him: pic.twitter.com/RPKFnQxqgv
— Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) March 15, 2022
If you want to humiliate Republicans, all you have to do is quote them. https://t.co/c5OaBBneAw
— Windsor Mann (@WindsorMann) March 15, 2022
Are you suffering from Partisan Derangement Syndrome?
The GOP is. https://t.co/ukUfrqk6yO
— Barry Rubin (@barubin) March 15, 2022
how true but sad thing is the GOP will never admit Trump is a con man because they are making money from supporting him https://t.co/rcbK6c4gGK
— JUST AN OLD HIPPY TIRED OF STUPID PEOPLE (@jimpeter69) March 15, 2022
I hope there are some truly woke GOP people who can actually see through the BS that is pervasive in much of the GOP "leadership". https://t.co/Z2XuIKY0Xs
— Maurice Lewis (@drmwlewis) March 15, 2022
Dang, didn't see myself ever giving Rs a RT, but the truth is the truth.
This world just gets weirder and weirder.
I'm shocked some Rs actually care, according to this, because from my view it seems their entire party has PDS. https://t.co/36efy8OenV
— FullyVaxedJax 🤗 (@Jra4U) March 15, 2022
Some found the ad highly effective.
Excellent. As a student of rhetoric, this ad employs every rhetorical appeal…and it displays the hypocrisy and the weakness that engulfs these “men” every waking moment of their lives. @gopleader, @GovChristie very sad display of cowardice. But, you know that and embrace it. https://t.co/A4V1HEe4nr
— RETIRED MASTER CHIEF⚓️ (@CMCRET) March 15, 2022
Thus is great!! We all know someone too far gone to save. God help us!! https://t.co/RR2SeK0HEV
— Je Je Marino (@jmarinocolospgs) March 15, 2022
This is well done and irrefutable.
Wherever anyone was in 16 and 20, we should all be #neveragaintrump https://t.co/ywcISMIFxA
— Gregg Nunziata (@greggnunziata) March 15, 2022
Trump has yet to confirm his 2024 candidacy, but has heavily hinted at his intentions to run.
