Though many of former President Donald Trump's supporters are unflinchingly loyal and defiantly vocal, Trump was a historically unpopular President. His average approval rating never rose above 50 percent. He was impeached twice. He's one of only 10 American Presidents to ever lose reelection.
Trump has been embraced by most of the Republican party, but he's not without his Republican critics. He was opposed by the likes of the late Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, and others.
While most of these reasons were made out of moral umbrage at Trump's character, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana—who frequently voted in line with Trump's agenda—has a much simpler, more blunt reason for opposing Trump if he runs in 2024.
Watch below.
Axios on HBO: Senator Bill Cassidy on President Trump’s potential 2024 runwww.youtube.com
Cassidy told Axios:
"President Trump is the first president, in the Republican side at least, to lose the House, the Senate and the presidency in four years. Elections are about winning. ... If you want to win the presidency, and hopefully that's what voters are thinking about, I think he might [lose the Republican nomination]."
Back in January, the Senator didn't vote in favor of overturning election results in swing states Trump lost. He also voted to convict Trump in his second Senate impeachment trial for inciting an insurrection, so Cassidy has by no means been a favorite of Trump's.
But his most recent comments sent Trump into a familiar rage.
NEW!\n\nPresident Donald J. Trump:\n\n"Wacky Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana is a RINO Republican who begged for my endorsement in 2020 and used it all over the place to win re-election, much like Little Ben Sasse, and then voted to impeach your favorite President...pic.twitter.com/8muNaLkbAB— Liz Harrington (@Liz Harrington) 1634604317
Trump wrote:
"Wacky Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana is a RINO Republican who begged for my endorsement in 2020 and used it all over the place to win re-election, much like Little Ben Sasse, and then voted to impeach your favorite President...Now, Wacky Bill Cassidy can't walk down the street in Louisiana, a State I won by almost 20 points. He could not even be elected dog catcher today, the great people curse him."
People weren't receptive to the former President's smears.
Bill Cassidy out-performed Donald Trump in Louisiana.pic.twitter.com/A5X6vPQ95N— Andrew Desiderio (@Andrew Desiderio) 1634605998
Who forgot to change his diaper?— sailorsloth (@sailorsloth) 1634648355
I knew this was coming. Surprised it took so long for him to whine about Bill Cassidy. Interesting how the GOP seems to be, slowly, turning against TFG. Love it— suzyaz (@suzyaz) 1634647258
Petty bitter manchild— Nancy S. (@Nancy S.) 1634608123
So whiny, so narcissistic, so juvenile, so boring. Teach grandpa a new trick.— Democat Jorge\ud83d\ude3c (@Democat Jorge\ud83d\ude3c) 1634608339
And Trump's claim to be America's "favorite" President was particularly absurd.
I dont know what makes that deranged man think he is my favorite president. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Hes insane— Fae Clubb (@Fae Clubb) 1634623644
Trump barely had 40% approval rating when he LOST the election. He\u2019s not our favorite president.— Mike Francis (@Mike Francis) 1634610586
Favorite Presidentpic.twitter.com/EU8Gq0yoNH— Vanessa Lengner (@Vanessa Lengner) 1634650067
Not America\u2019s favorite president, or even person for that matter.— GMaldonado Art (@GMaldonado Art) 1634616924
Trump has yet to publicly confirm whether he'll be running in 2024.
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social