Former President Donald Trump. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
Trump threatened his voters that they would stay home in 2022, 2024 if the GOP didn't support election lies.
Insider was told by a specialist in democracy and extremism that his statement was "mostly a power game."
This technique was used by the former president in Georgia's runoffs. Republicans lost.
One year ago, Trump was still preaching about the false and unfounded election fraud that led to his loss of the presidency in November 2020.
This time, however, the GOP leader has added an ultimatum to his sermon. It is directed at fellow Republican lawmakers. Repeat Trump's election lies and supporters of the polarizing politician won't vote in the forthcoming pivotal elections.
Trump sent a threat statement via his political action committee website Save America on Thursday.
"If we don’t solve the Presidential Election Fraud 2020 (which has been thoroughly and conclusively documented), Republicans won’t be voting in '22/'24. This is the most important thing that Republicans can do," the statement stated.
Official audits and election experts concluded that there was no widespread fraud in 2020's election. The Department of Homeland Security also declared it the "most secure in American History."
Cas Mudde, an expert in democracy and extremism at the University of Georgia, says that the ousted president is hinting at a run for the presidency in 2024.
Mudde stated that the former president, even though he is no longer in office, still has sway over Republican party and his ominous messages create a problem for party members.
Insider reported that Mudde said that the GOP candidates must find a balance between pro-Trump and pro -vote.
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Mudde stated that despite Trump's messaging problems to Republican lawmakers ahead of the impending election, he believes Trump’s latest threat is "mostly an act of power play."
Mudde stated that Mudde wanted to "remain at the center" of GOP politics and keep the party moving forward without him.
Phillip Bump, Washington Post National Correspondent, wrote that the ultimatum by the former president was not a threat to withhold his passionate support from other Republican candidates but rather a preemptive explanation as to why he might not be able energize his base for future elections.
Mudde noted that Trump has threatened this same threat in the past with respect to the 2021 Georgia Senate elections, which saw Democrats win the Senate, a defeat for Trump and his Republican party. Trump's threats to his base not voting in January were rescinded and Mudde stated that he believes Trump will likely downplay this threat as the 2022 and 2024 elections near.
Mudde stated that the remarks of the former president could reduce the GOP vote, but not significantly. However, margins in many races are already narrow and politicians are preparing for tight races.
Some strategists believe that Trump's numerous claims of voter fraud may have hurt GOP voter turnout earlier in the year. However, the ex-president, along with many other senior Republican figures, expressed confidence that Republicans would be able to regain Congress in 2022.
Business Insider has the original article.
