• Donald Trump has become a problem for the Republican party, and many GOP officials and strategists are hoping for something to happen that will make him go away.
• Some Republicans are hoping for Trump’s “mortal demise,” while others are hoping for a donor revolt or legal troubles to sideline him.
• However, Trump’s legal troubles could actually boost him with the party’s base, and a coordinated donor revolt has not materialized.
• In 2016, Trump’s rivals failed to beat him because they were convinced his self-inflicted demise was imminent.
• The current field of GOP presidential prospects could end up splitting the anti-Trump electorate, and few of the top figures in the party have demonstrated an ability to take on Trump directly.
• Even if another Republican captures the nomination, there’s no guarantee that Trump will go away, as he has suggested he might run an independent spoiler campaign if his party refuses to back him.
Published January 30, 2023
Visit The Atlantic to read McKay Coppins’s original post Republicans’ 2024 Magical Thinking
