Former President Donald Trump is considered a kingmaker of the Republican party, but rather than strategy or electability, Trump focuses on loyalty.
He's frequently revoked or admitted regretting endorsements of those who crossed him. For instance, Trump lamented his endorsement of current Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp for not overturning the results of Georgia's presidential election, as Trump requested.
Also in Georgia, conservative ex-football player Herschel Walker recently announced his bid for Georgia's seat in the United States Senate. Trump gave Walker his wholehearted endorsement.
In a statement last week, Trump warned that conservative voters would sit out in the 2022 midterms and the 2024 presidential election if congressional Republicans didn't properly investigate the delusional conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was "stolen" from him.
Trump wrote:
"If we don't solve the Presidential Election Fraud of 2020 (which we have thoroughly and conclusively documented), Republicans will not be voting in '22 or '24. It is the single most important thing for Republicans to do."
Likely fearing a diminished conservative turnout, Walker warned against Trump's mindset, urging Republicans to vote whether they believe Trump's lies about the 2020 election or not.
When asked about Trump's comments in a radio interview with Fox News' Brian Kilmeade, Walker said:
"I think everyone's got to get out and vote. You know, we can't look at the past. We can't continue to look at the past."
It's unclear if Trump will consider the gentle criticisms enough of a betrayal to revoke his endorsement of Walker.
That hasn't stopped people from mocking the man who demands unconditional loyalty.
That a Republican politician—even one as inexperienced as Walker—now seems astute for telling GOP voters to...vote?
Well, that's certainly an interesting development in the political landscape.
Others took Trump's side.
It won't be until 2022 that we know what Republican voters decide.
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