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The ethics, or lack thereof, of the Republican party have turned out to be too much for one former Trump official.
Miles Taylor, who formerly served as a deputy chief of staff for Homeland Security under former Republican President Donald Trump, wrote on Twitter he no longer believes the GOP can be saved—and he is leaving the party altogether.
Taylor cited the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York as an example of how the party's dangerous rhetoric, especially surrounding the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory touted by the likes of Fox News' Tucker Carlson, is inciting racist violence.
"I'm done."
"I no longer believe that the Republican Party can be saved."
"The vitriolic rhetoric is inspiring violent radicals."
"I'm quitting the GOP. And I hope more do the same."
I'm done.\n\nI no longer believe the Republican Party can be saved. The vitriolic rhetoric is inspiring violent radicals.\n\nI'm quitting the GOP. And I hope more do the same.— Miles Taylor (@Miles Taylor) 1652829044
In the comments on his tweet, Taylor linked to an editorial he penned for NBC News in which he elaborates on why he has given up hope of saving the party.
"In the wake of the mass shooting in Buffalo on Saturday, it’s become glaringly obvious that my party no longer represents conservative values but in fact poses a threat to them — and to America."
"I was wrong in thinking it could be saved. […] The vitriolic GOP rhetoric is inspiring violent radicals, and I don’t say that lightly."
Taylor also cited his experience with Homeland Security and counterterrorism as part of why he is speaking out against the party's actions.
"After more than a decade in counterterrorism, it’s clear to me that my party is mainstreaming conspiracy theories that are fueling a statistical spike in political intimidation, attitudes toward violence and the specter of domestic terrorism that we witnessed this weekend in New York."
Twitter users were fairly mixed in their reactions.
Some encouraged Taylor for his public denouncing of the GOP.
Admitting you were wrong in such a public fashion is always incredibly difficult and if people make it harder by being anything other than welcoming (rather than crowing about how right you were all along), less will make that journey. We must clear a path back to sanity.pic.twitter.com/ZNLJ60CFk4— DCT (@DCT) 1652834855
I\u2019m really sorry that this has happened. As a Democrat, I know our ideology is different but please know that we hope you can help us fight to save our country. If we all stand together, we can save our country.— Cranky Pants \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b (@Cranky Pants \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b) 1652834024
Welcome to the world that most of us live......you gave it a good shot. I believe you are right, what's left they can't be saved. Let's hope all of us working together can save our country from authoritarianism.— Margaret Anne (@Margaret Anne) 1652832211
Nearly 50 years and I'm Finished. Never again.Took a while for me to see that I've voted against my best interest for just that long. I'm done.— Firstmate1060 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3\u2693\ufe0f\ud83c\udf0a #SlavaUkrain (@Firstmate1060 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3\u2693\ufe0f\ud83c\udf0a #SlavaUkrain) 1652837166
I understand people trying to save something they truly believe in. I also understand there comes a time you need to accept it can't be saved.— Pizzer \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\udf3b (@Pizzer \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\udf3b) 1652829402
Milkshakes, too!pic.twitter.com/vJFcs0xYnY— Phil (@Phil) 1652834419
But others questioned how committed he was to really facilitating change.
This, Sir, is the question. I am an Independent, but I don't throw my vote away on someone I know won't win. Right now are very democracy is at risk. This is not hyperbole. Even though you may have never voted blue in your whole life, for the sake of the nation,— Your Vaxxed Manga Uncle EddieDexter (@Your Vaxxed Manga Uncle EddieDexter) 1652831655
Still others were critical it took Taylor so long to come to this conclusion.
Welcome to the club.— David Weissman (@David Weissman) 1652830346
Congratulations on realizing in 2022 something that has been obvious your entire adult life.— The Hoarse Whisperer (@The Hoarse Whisperer) 1652836948
Taylor also touched on the GOP's assertion the January 6th insurrection was "legitimate political discourse" and how it encourages Americans to use violence to make their point.
"The Republican Party — which branded a violent insurrection in the nation’s capital as “legitimate political discourse“ — is poisoning Americans minds and supplanting respectful disagreement with loaded-gun rhetoric."
As more people like Taylor come to understand the truth of the Republican Party, maybe concrete change will begin to happen.