Never Trump Republicans Continue to Sound the Alarm
The sixth annual Principles First summit, held in National Harbor, Maryland, brought together Republicans and former Republicans who are deeply concerned about the state of American democracy under President Donald Trump. The event, which took place on Saturday and Sunday, featured dire warnings from speakers who described Trump and his allies as a threat to the nation’s values and institutions.
According to attendees, the Republican Party has become an “authoritarian-embracing cult” that is abandoning its long-standing commitments to free trade and limited government. John McDowell, a 69-year-old former lifelong Republican, acknowledged that the Never Trump movement has virtually “zero” political clout within the party. “It’s just a fact. We’re losing good people,” he said. “The party is becoming more and more MAGA-fied.”
A Diminished but Determined Movement
The main convention hall was half empty, with about 750 chairs set up in a room that could have fit thousands. Not a single current Republican elected official participated in the two-day program. Despite this, attendees remained optimistic, citing recent Supreme Court decisions and polling data that suggests Trump’s popularity is waning. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie highlighted AP-NORC polling that shows 1 in 4 Republicans nationwide do not approve of Trump’s job performance.
Rich Logis, a former MAGA supporter, hopes to see “an electoral revolt against MAGA” in the upcoming midterm elections. “I think there’s a shift in our country right now,” he said. “It happens slowly.” Logis was promoting support groups for friends and family of Trump loyalists at a table outside the convention hall. Nearby, someone was selling books about how to escape cults.
A Call to Action
Speakers at the summit urged Trump’s critics not to downplay the seriousness of the threat he poses to the nation. Former Republican Rep. Joe Walsh implored attendees to recognize the danger of Trump’s authoritarian tendencies. “He’s everything our founders feared. Say it. Believe it,” Walsh said. Retired Gen. Mark Hertling suggested that the US should look to post-Nazi Germany as a roadmap for recovery, saying that the nation’s institutions have been shaken and its values cast aside.
Bill Kristol, a former Republican administration official, described Trump and his supporters as “an existential threat” to the nation. However, he remained optimistic about the upcoming midterm elections, predicting that Democrats are “almost certain to win the House” and have a “good chance to win the presidency” in 2028. Brittany Martinez, executive director of Principles First, also expressed hope that Republicans would “wake up” and recognize the damage caused by Trump and his allies.
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