Republican support for Donald Trump is not a foregone conclusion: Here's the full list of GOP ABTs
WASHINGTON, DC: Former United States Representative Adam Kinzinger, who served in Illinois from 2011 to 2023, hinted at a faction within the GOP that would consider voting for President Joe Biden over Donald Trump.
Kinzinger stated, "There are many like me in the GOP who don't agree with everything Joe Biden does but would vote for him as opposed to Donald Trump."
“We can survive four more years of Joe Biden. I'm not sure we can survive 4 years of Donald Trump."
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) November 13, 2023
Former GOP Rep. @AdamKinzinger on why anti-Trump Republicans should vote for Biden if Trump is the GOP nominee pic.twitter.com/Vyv0h3Pc62
This revelation comes as several key Republican figures have distanced themselves from the Trump campaign, openly expressing their reservations about supporting him in the 2024 presidential election. These figures are emerging as the public face of a resistance movement within the Republican Party against the former president.
Paul Ryan
Former Speaker Paul Ryan, a prominent GOP figure, spoke candidly about the party's prospects, stating, "The GOP will probably lose the White House with Trump," citing the party's losses in the House in 2018 and both the Senate and the presidency in 2020.
“And if there’s someone not named Trump, my guess is we win the White House,” Ryan told Jonathan Karl on ABC’s 'This Week.'
Ryan went further, labeling himself a "Never-Again-Trumper."
Winsome Sears
Virginia Lt Gov Winsome Sears echoed this sentiment, declaring that she would not support Trump if he ran for reelection a third time. “I could not support him. I just couldn’t,” she told Fox News’s Neil Cavuto.
Sears emphasized that voters have sent a "very clear message" for Trump to step back, stating, "A true leader understands when they have become a liability. A true leader understands that it’s time to step off the stage."
Bill Cassidy
Senator Bill Cassidy, one of the seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial, firmly stated, "I wouldn't back Trump in a 2024 bid."
Cassidy highlighted Trump's unprecedented losses during his term. “President Trump is the first president, in the Republican side at least, to lose the House, the Senate, and the presidency in four years,” he told Axios last fall.
“But it’s clear you ain’t voting for him,” Axios’s Mike Allen asked to confirm.
“I’m not,” the senator declared.
Mark Esper
Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper made his stance clear, emphatically stating, "No" when asked if he would vote for Trump in 2024. Esper criticized Trump's lack of integrity and ability to unite the country, declaring Trump "unfit for office."
“No, and I’ll tell you why. Because in my view, any elected leader needs to meet some basic criteria: they need to be able to put country over self, they need to have a certain amount of integrity and principle, they need to be able to reach across the aisle and bring people together and unite the country. Look, Donald Trump doesn’t meet those marks for me,” Esper said on MSNBC’s 'Morning Joe.'
He later told “CNN This Morning” that Trump is “unfit for office” and that Republicans should move on to the next generation of candidates.
Alyssa Farah Griffin
Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin took to Twitter to express her concern on the day of Trump’s 2024 announcement. “Donald Trump is wholly unfit for office and a clear and present danger to democracy. Republicans, please take him on,” Griffin wrote.
Griffin had become critical of Trump after leaving the administration. She told CNN last year that Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence was “uniquely positioned” to challenge him and could potentially “put up a formidable fight” in 2024.
Kristi Noem
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, endorsed by Trump in her recent reelection, remarked that Trump doesn't offer "the best chance" for the GOP in the next presidential election cycle.
Noem emphasized the need to engage with every American, not just those who love or hate Trump.
“If we narrow our focus there, then we’re not talking to every single American. Our job is not just to talk to people who love Trump or hate Trump. Our job is to talk to every single American,” she told The New York Times.
Asa Hutchinson
Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas criticized Trump's divisive message, stating, "There are better choices" for the GOP in 2024.
“Trump is correct on Biden’s failures, but his self-indulging message promoting anger has not changed. It didn’t work in 2022 and won’t work in 2024. There are better choices,” Hutchinson posted on Twitter.
He later announced his own 2024 bid, emphasizing the need for the party to move beyond Trump.
Mo Brooks
Representative Mo Brooks from Alabama expressed concerns about Trump as the GOP nominee in 2024, labeling him as "dishonest, disloyal, incompetent, crude."
“It would be a bad mistake for the Republicans to have Donald Trump as their nominee in 2024,” Brooks told the Alabama outlet AL.com in an interview earlier this year.
Trump withdrew his backing of Brooks after the congressman distanced himself from Trump's claims about the 2020 election.
Larry Hogan
Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland indirectly criticized Trump, urging the GOP to "turn the page" and blaming Trump for the party's disappointing midterm results.
“Since 2016, Republicans have done nothing but lose, and Republican voters are paying the price for it. Doubling down on losing isn’t just foolish. It’s a gift to the Democrats. It is time to turn the page,” Hogan posted on Twitter.
Hogan was rumored to be a possible 2024 challenger to Trump, but has not announced his candidacy as yet.
Mike Pompeo
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for "more seriousness, less noise" and leaders looking forward, not dwelling on the past.
“We need more seriousness, less noise, and leaders who are looking forward, not staring in the rearview mirror claiming victimhood,” Pompeo wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after Trump announced his candidacy for 2024.
His comments came after Trump referred to himself as a "victim" during his 2024 announcement. “We were told we’d get tired of winning. But I’m tired of losing. And so are most Republicans,” Pompeo stated.
Mike Pence
Former Vice President Mike Pence, during his media tour, made repeated digs at Trump, stating that the decision for Trump to be president again is "up to the American people."
When ABC’s David Muir asked Pence if Trump should ever run again, he responded, “David, I think that’s up to the American people. But I think we’ll have better choices in the future.”
It's worth noting that the former vice president is himself running for the highest office in the country.
Liz Cheney
Representative Liz Cheney went further, pledging to do "whatever it takes" to ensure Trump is not the GOP presidential nominee in 2024, including supporting Democrats against election deniers running as Republicans.
“I'm going to make sure Donald Trump, make sure he's not the nominee,” Cheney told the Texas Tribune. “And if he is the nominee, I won't be a Republican.”
Cheney had previously criticized Trump for his handling of the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.