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.
It's only been 9 months and the guy he pushed to run in Georgia is challenging what he says while the candidate he endorsed in VA has said he doesn't want him to campaign for him, but sure, he'll be the frontrunner for 3 years from now, when he's 78, or something.https://twitter.com/kilmeade/status/1450225751396126727\u00a0\u2026— Carl Paulus (@Carl Paulus) 1634650335
Trump says not to vote. 3/4 of the Republican rank and file are still on the Trump train, so what\u2019s the plan? Think saying \u201cit\u2019s not the right message\u201d will change minds? Maybe if you slip him enough $ he\u2019ll \u201cdo you a favor\u201d. Or maybe pray Christopher Steele releases a pee tape?— Fibognocchi (@Fibognocchi) 1634650570
Trump ? The guy who promised the wall ? Who let the pandemic slide? Who cheated on his pregnant wife?? Who Brian Kilmeade sticks up for everyday? I think FOX needs some cancel culture in its own ranks??— Big Mac (@Big Mac) 1634647679
So what you're saying Is don't listen to the ramblings of that idiot trump— Buc Weisanheimer. (@Buc Weisanheimer.) 1634741717
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.
Somebody in Georgia please buy Walker a beer for me man. How does he have better political instincts than the former president of the United States?https://twitter.com/kilmeade/status/1450225751396126727\u00a0\u2026— white hispanic race soldier (@white hispanic race soldier) 1634605679
That the prohibitive frontrunner for the R nomination in the biggest statewide race in GA next year saying \u201cpeople should vote\u201d is surprising is\u2026 tellinghttps://twitter.com/kilmeade/status/1450225751396126727\u00a0\u2026— MA politics hater (@MA politics hater) 1634612331
Walker might be better at this politics thing than some of us, me included, gave him credit for. See how he does going forwardhttps://twitter.com/kilmeade/status/1450225751396126727\u00a0\u2026— Andrew Donaldson (@Andrew Donaldson) 1634647387
Others took Trump's side.
But Trumps right tho. I stopped donating to politicians 100% since last election and I further see no point in voting if the dominion machines can amd DO flip my vote. I got 3 mails in last year and couldn\u2019t vote in person because some DID steal mine. What\u2019s the point?— LisaAgain7 (@LisaAgain7) 1634599350
Trump has NOT said that people will note vote if we don't solve election fraud. He has said that the vote won't matter if it's not solved, and he's right. Kilmeade has always hated Trump.— jejune2016 (@jejune2016) 1634610869
I like Herschel,but prez Trump is correct. If something isn\u2019t done about the fraud, it\u2019s absolutely LUDICROUS to think that casting a vote is going to matter,so why bother?— tina finley (@tina finley) 1634596182
It won't be until 2022 that we know what Republican voters decide.
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