United States: Donald Trump still at the center of the political game among Republicans
Former President Donald Trump retains considerable influence among Republicans.
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS AFP / File
Text by: Anne Corpet Follow
4 min
Senators were sworn in on Tuesday, January 27, as jurors in the trial of Donald Trump which will open in two weeks.
For Donald Trump to be convicted, seventeen Republican senators would have to vote in favor of his guilt.
It is far from being won given the hold that the former president retains on the party.
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From our correspondent in Washington,
Republican elected officials are divided on Donald Trump's attitude, but they are closing ranks
as his trial approaches
.
Even if Donald Trump's attitude clearly made party elites uncomfortable, on Tuesday we witnessed a block vote by Republican senators to try to cancel his trial: 45 of them in all case
supported the objection
raised by libertarian Rand Paul.
He considers that the procedure is not in accordance with the Constitution.
Only five Republican senators therefore dared to challenge the former tenant of the White House.
Even Mitch McConnell, who blamed Donald Trump for the Capitol riots directly, voted to try to spare him the humiliation of a second trial.
Democrats now have a majority in the Senate, so this trial will take place, but the result of this procedural vote makes the conviction of the former president very unlikely.
This would require the votes of 17 Republican senators.
Republican elected officials released at the local level
It must be said that the ten Republican representatives who voted for the impeachment of Donald Trump suffered the consequences.
The attacks against them are very virulent, especially at the local level.
The Oregon Republican Party in the Northwest cites betrayal, the Texas Republican Party talks about a frivolous and cruel vote, and the Arizona Republican Party has passed a motion of no confidence against three elected officials who have publicly taken a stand against Donald Trump.
Liz Cheney, the number three in the Republican Party in Congress, was particularly targeted after her vote in favor of impeaching the former president.
Florida Representative Matt Gaetz will travel to Wyoming, state of Liz Cheney this week to denounce the action.
He plans to organize a demonstration against her in front of the Capitol.
Cold War among Republicans
We can even begin to evoke a form of cold war within the Republican Party.
And it seems to be won by supporters of Donald Trump.
Mitch McConnell, who led the Republican majority with an iron fist for six years in the Senate has become a target of conservative media, after openly criticizing the attitude of the former president.
As we have seen, he sided with the former tenant of the White House on Tuesday.
►Also read: United States: in Arizona, the Republican camp divided on loyalty to Trump, Cindy McCain dismissed
Some elected officials prefer to throw in the towel.
The moderate Ohio senator has announced that he will not stand for re-election in 2022. Donald Trump's supporters intend to thrive on his electorate.
Sarah Sanders, his former spokesperson, launched on Monday in the race for governor of Arkansas, with the support of Donald Trump.
Recluse in Florida, muzzled on Twitter, it remains at the center of the Republican game.
He also assures that he will remain the "
champion of the Americans
".
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