Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said on Sunday that he will not back Donald Trump if the former president runs for the White House in 202...
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said on Sunday that he will not back Donald Trump if the former president runs for the White House in 2024, saying 'it´s time' to move on to different voices in the Republican Party.
'No, I wouldn´t,' Hutchinson said when asked on CNN´s 'State of the Union' whether he would ever support Trump again. 'He´s going to have a voice, as former presidents do. But there´s many voices in the party.'
Trump 'should not define our future. We have got to define it for ourself,' the Republican governor, who cannot seek reelection in 2022, added.
The party is facing deep divisions on how best to proceed in the wake of Trump's presidency. Seven Republicans voted in favor of convicting Trump for 'inciting an insurrection' ahead of the deadly Capitol riot on January 6.
But a Politico / Morning Consult survey released earlier this month and taken immediately after impeachment vote found 53 per cent of Republicans back Trump for 2024 with Mike Pence far behind in second place at 12 per cent.
Hutchinson had said after the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, which led to Trump's impeachment by the House, that he wanted Trump´s administration to end. But Hutchinson did not join calls for Trump to resign and said impeachment wasn't a practical option. The Senate acquitted Trump of inciting the attack.
Trump told his supporters following his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial that 'our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun'. He got a hero's welcome while driving by cheering supporters in Florida on Presidents Day.
'No, I wouldn´t,' Hutchinson said when asked on CNN´s 'State of the Union' whether he would ever support Trump again. 'He´s going to have a voice, as former presidents do. But there´s many voices in the party'
Since he left office on January 20, Trump has kept a relatively low profile playing golf in Palm Beach, Florida. The former president is pictured February 19
Hutchinson said Sunday: 'He'll only define the party if we let him. That's a reason my voice is important. Other's voices are important in this debate and I think it's fine for CPAC to invite former President Trump to speak.
'He has a loud megaphone but we have to have many different voices and in my view, we can't let him define us for the future because that would just further divide our country and it would hurt our Republican Party.'
'It's time and he's got a good family. I worked with Ivanka [Trump] and others and they love America. But I would not support him for reelection in 2024,' he added.
Hutchinson's interview aired days after his nephew, Arkansas state Sen. Jim Hendren, announced that he´s leaving the GOP, citing Trump´s rhetoric and the riot at the Capitol by Trump's supporters.
Trump had stoked a campaign of spreading debunked conspiracy theories and false violent rhetoric that the 2020 election was stolen from him in the weeks before the insurrection.
Those who voted to convict with the 50 Democrats include North Carolina Senator Richard Burr, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.
Since he left office on January 20, Trump has kept a relatively low profile in Palm Beach, Florida.
He plans to make his first post-presidential appearance at a conservative gathering in Florida, giving a speech next Sunday that is expected to address the future of the GOP. Pence has declined an invitation, according to reports.
A Politico / Morning Consult survey released earlier this month and taken immediately after impeachment vote found 53 per cent of Republicans back Trump for 2024 with Mike Pence far behind in second place at 12 per cent
On Sunday, Hutchinson praised Trump´s family, including Trump's daughter Ivanka, and said he also respected his nephew´s decision to continue his political career as an independent.
But Hutchinson said the Republican Party will have a 'good future' if it sticks to core conservative principles rather than 'personalities.'
He said the GOP will need to work in particular on galvanizing certain segments of voters as Trump did, such as blue-collar workers.
'I have worked with Ivanka and others, and they love America. But I would not support him,' Hutchinson said.
'We have got to respond to the people that like Trump. We have got to respond and identify with the issues that gave him the first election and gave him support throughout his presidency ... but we just got to handle it in a different way with different personalities,' he said.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Sunday he will not back Donald Trump if the former president runs for the White House in 2024, saying 'it´s time' to move on to different voices in the Republican Party
Former Republican Texas Rep. Will Hurd told NBC's Meet the Press: 'This is a president that lost the House, the Senate, the White House in four years.
'I think the last person to do that was Herbert Hoover and that was in the Great Depression. And, you know, when you look at in the 2020 election, the number of Republicans that were successful significantly outperformed President Trump.'
John McCain's widow Cindy said the part would 'probably' split over Trump.
Hendren had been considering a run for governor next year because Hutchinson is term-limited, but Hendren's decision to leave the party keeps him out of a GOP primary that will include Trump´s former White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders.
Sanders, the daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee, has indicated she would lean heavily on Trump and his rhetoric, with an announcement video pledging to fight the 'radical left.'
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