Donald Trump. Getty Images, iStock
Most Republicans elected since Donald Trump's departure have attempted to tread a delicate line: Accepting the "Big Lie" about Joe Biden's 2020 election as unfair and fraudulent while also distancing from the violence of Jan. 6 Insurrection.
Problem? Trump won't allow them.
Trump supporters will hold a "Justice for J6” rally in Washington, D.C. on Saturday to support insurrectionists currently in pretrial detention. According to the organizer of the rally, those still in prison are "political prisoners". It's unlikely that this is true. The New York Times reports that 15% of those who were arrested in connection to the Capitol break-in remain in custody. This is significantly lower than the federal pretrial detention rate, which is 75 percent. But, truth is not the main point. It is our intention to cast the insurrectionists into martyrs for the Trumpist cause.
This notion was unsurprisingly supported by Trump. Trump stated in a Thursday statement that his heart and mind were with those being persecuted unfairly over the January 6th protest regarding the Rigged Presidential election. "In addition, it has been proven conclusively that our justice system is two-tiered." JUSTICE WILL WIN!
However, elected Republicans have a problem. While they support Trump as their party leader, they prefer to discuss the insurrection. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) famously gave a fist pump salute before the Jan. 6 crowd began its assault. He has now made it clear that he will not be attending Saturday's rally. One GOP strategist said to the Times that "Anytime Joe Biden is the focus, it's good news for Republicans." Trump's decision not to draw attention the jailed rioters to his failure to do so falls squarely into the latter category.
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This has been a problem for Republicans since the beginning. While they love Trump's ability to excite their base, he can also alienate the larger electorate. This is why members and senators of Congress spent four years telling reporters that they had not seen Trump's tweets. Trump will never curb his narcissism to benefit his party. Republicans will remain loyal to Trump as long as they support him.
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