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marmar

(79,261 posts) Wed Dec 17, 2025, 08:39 AM Dec 17

Republicans are quiet quitting on Trump

Republicans are quiet quitting on Trump
The White House chief of staff says the president has “an alcoholic’s personality”

By Amanda Marcotte
Senior Writer
Published December 17, 2025 6:45AM (EST)

(Salon) Donald Trump is worried that Republicans aren’t as afraid of him as they used to be. Despite his self-billing as a dealmaker, the president has only ever had one tool to control his party: fear. GOP politicians have been afraid of career damage and literal physical harm if they crossed him. Trump is not above reminding elected officials that he has unhinged followers who are known to be violent. But as his approval ratings fall and the 2026 midterm elections inch closer, it seems Republicans are slightly less worried about the president’s wrath.

The first indicator was the House vote on Nov. 18 to release the Epstein files against Trump’s expressed wishes. But the biggest sign that the president’s grip on power is weakening came last week, when a majority of Republicans in the Indiana statehouse struck down a gerrymandering bill Trump had demanded.

As I argued in the latest Standing Room Only newsletter, this context helps explain why Trump responded to the death of beloved director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele with an ugliness that’s shocking — even for this president. Although the Los Angeles Police Department had arrested the couple’s son for the apparent homicide, Trump insinuated on Truth Social that it was one of his own followers who killed the Reiners out of revenge for their anti-Trump activism. He doubled down when asked about it by reporters in the Oval Office on Monday. The message was hard to miss: If you oppose Trump, he wishes you dead.

....(snip)....

These are promising signs, but it’s not worth holding your breath waiting for GOP politicians to openly turn on a president who demands absolute loyalty. Instead of public rebellion, most Republicans seem to be engaged in a form of quiet quitting. They won’t go out of their way to resist Trump, but they are losing enthusiasm for defending him. They’re struggling to hide their frustration or their scheming for a post-Trump world. Overall, the posture is one of lying low, waiting for the old man to be gone so they can begin the project of rebuilding the GOP and their own careers in a post-Trump era. .....................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2025/12/17/republicans-are-quiet-quitting-on-trump/

10 replies

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Republicans are quiet quitting on Trump (Original Post) marmar Dec 17 OP

" Donald Trump is worried that Republicans aren't as afraid of him as they used to be." Scrivener7 Dec 17 #1

the ultimate insult to trunp would be if those quitting on trump would turn d.:) AllaN01Bear Dec 17 #2

Here. Here.Do it. essaynnc Dec 17 #6

Extortion, blackmail, and hostages are his other weapons dickthegrouch Dec 17 #3

And physical harm. Let's not dance around that Bluetus Dec 17 #10

On January 21, 2029 COL Mustard Dec 17 #4

After enabling him they want no responsibility for their actions? senseandsensibility Dec 17 #5

WE TOLD YOU SO!!! CTyankee Dec 17 #7

For the first time in his two terms biocube Dec 17 #8

The GOP is really going to regret that he came down that escalator one day. Xolodno Dec 17 #9

Scrivener7

(58,361 posts)

1. " Donald Trump is worried that Republicans aren't as afraid of him as they used to be."

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Wed Dec 17, 2025, 08:43 AM

Dec 17

This makes me fear what his big announcement will be about. He definitely wants to start a war.

AllaN01Bear

(28,615 posts)

2. the ultimate insult to trunp would be if those quitting on trump would turn d.:)

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Wed Dec 17, 2025, 03:48 PM

Dec 17

essaynnc

(971 posts)

6. Here. Here.Do it.

Reply to AllaN01Bear (Reply #2)

Wed Dec 17, 2025, 05:59 PM

Dec 17

He would definitely blow a gasket! In his head, in his heart, in his hand, I don't care ! Go Dems! I think one of my senators, Thom Tillis, might go for it. What do you say Thom? You could really kick him in the ass on the way out the door!!

dickthegrouch

(4,299 posts)

3. Extortion, blackmail, and hostages are his other weapons

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Wed Dec 17, 2025, 03:54 PM

Dec 17

Fear is not the only one.
I don't believe he has ever made a deal in his life. He has only used his hostage taking and the consequences of that.
I consider tariffs and all the other demonic actions he's taken since Jan 20th to be equivalent to hostage taking.

Bluetus

(2,306 posts)

10. And physical harm. Let's not dance around that

Reply to dickthegrouch (Reply #3)

Wed Dec 17, 2025, 08:36 PM

Dec 17

Trump thinks he controls a goon squad who will murder people at his command.

So far, he hasn't turned the goons on Republicans, but he has certainly forced many Dems to get extensive security, and some have, in fact, been murdered.

COL Mustard

(7,994 posts)

4. On January 21, 2029

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Wed Dec 17, 2025, 05:12 PM

Dec 17

Most Republicans will be saying, “I never liked that guy anyway”.

senseandsensibility

(24,254 posts)

5. After enabling him they want no responsibility for their actions?

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Wed Dec 17, 2025, 05:29 PM

Dec 17

We know the corporate media will play along with their "who me" act, but the Democratic Party can not.

CTyankee

(67,796 posts)

7. WE TOLD YOU SO!!!

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Wed Dec 17, 2025, 06:22 PM

Dec 17

YOU EFFIN idiots.

biocube

(169 posts)

8. For the first time in his two terms

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Wed Dec 17, 2025, 06:34 PM

Dec 17

I think the walls are slowly closing in on him.

The stagflation is going to get worse next year. Eventually there will be enough Republicans to join with Dems and impeach and convict him.

Understand I have zero faith of Republicans putting what's right for the country over personal or political gain. But he's becoming a very real liability to his party.

Next year will be the Democrats version of 1994 if they don't do something.

Xolodno

(7,315 posts)

9. The GOP is really going to regret that he came down that escalator one day.

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Wed Dec 17, 2025, 07:02 PM

Dec 17

And for having such a crowded field for Presidential contention. None of them could get their poll numbers to do a knock out blow to Trump. They kept expecting another candidate to bow out and offer support. When the field started to get smaller, it was already too late.

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