Who Are The Republicans Against Trump?
By Bob Small
It’s a warning bell when any organization insists on changing its name. First started in May 2020 as the Defending Democracy Together as Republican Accountability In January 2021 they became Republican Accountability Project (RAP). However, their next iteration was Republican Voters Against Trump (RVAT) which is their fourth (and final?) title.
The founders of RVAT are Bill Kristol of the George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan administrations, Sarah Longwell and Tim Miller who was communications director for the Jeb Bush 2016 campaign, They also worked to defeat Trumpian candidates, succeeding with Dr. Mehmet Oz and Herschel Walker. A third targeted candidate was J. D. Vance.
“Show me the money” is a well-remembered phrase. In the case of RVAT it’s billionaires Reid Hoffman, Seth Klarman, and John Pritzker.
Hoffman is the co-founder of LinkedIn and a democratic donor. Klarman runs the Baupost Hedge Fund (Boston) and has donated to both parties. Pritzker, of the Hyatt Hotel family, and the cousin of J. B. Pritzker the Democrat governor of Illinois who ran Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign.
One keeps hearing that all the millionaires favor Trump but some didn’t get the memo.
“Donald Trump proved during his time in office and since why he is unfit to be President of the United States. This is from the official website of Republican Voters Against Trump. They are currently blitzing Pennsylvania, using electronic media, along with highway signs, etc.
The Guardian noted that, in 2024, RVAT released one hundred videos recorded by anti-Trump Republicans Vote against Trump, former supporters urge in $50m video.
More recently, Mike Pence came out strongly against what he claims is Trump’s backdown on abortion.
See also Mike Pence stars in new anti-Trump GOP ad campaign where Nikki Haley and Mitt Romney, etc. are also notable non-endorsers.
Since they are not being sent to the Democratic dark side then, where?. According to The 2024 Presidential Candidates, only the Libertarian Party has ballot access in 30-plus states and they are not a natural fit. The Constitution Party, whom we could see Mike Pence voting for, probably will only have about 10 states. So the mystery remains.
I do not see Trump’s response to the abortion issue as a ‘back-down.’ When Trump was in office, Roe v Wade ruled the abortion horizon. Since then, and in a different President’s term of office, the SCOTUS has determined that the abortion issue resides with the voters of the individual states, who decide, through their elected representatives (Not SCOTUS justices, who are NOT elected by the people), how their states should address the abortion question. A President Trump has NO PLACE in the abortion issue any more: NO President does. The question of abortion policy has been placed squarely in the hands of the states – NOT the federal government. As such, it is understandable that the Republican platform for the Presidential election is silent on this issue. The President has no right to rule on the issue. Trump could not render abortion legal, or illegal, as the head of the Executive branch of government. It is not his place; it is not within his authority; he has no voice except that of an individual American citizen.
The strike-down of Roe vs. Wade at the national level was a brilliant move. It took away the veil of excuses that our State Representatives used constantly to lie about where they stood on aborton issues. Now, they will have to reveal their true stances on abortion instead of claiming to be “#ProLife, but unfortunately, Roe V Wade.”
The group seems to be Jews Against Trump, with a mix of perhaps Evangelicals Against Trump? The latter hoping for Armageddon? Or whatever is supposed to happen when the Temple is restored, or destroyed, in Israel. Can’t remember which. Not up to speed on the prophecies.