It Is Not Too Late to Deny Donald Trump the Republican Presidential Nomination

With former Governors Asa Hutchinson and Chris Christie suspending their presidential campaigns, there is no major anti-Trump candidate currently seeking the Republican nomination for President. As Hutchinson observed, character and principles no longer matter to a plurality of Republican primary voters, who believe the ends justify the means in defeating their political opponents. The few remaining candidates in the once-crowded GOP field present themselves only as more electable or effective alternatives to Donald Trump, whom they criticize mildly only for his style or electability or governing challenges because of his lack of focus on issues or understanding of constitutional processes, while overtly appealing to Trumpists by supporting Trumpism. As I have observed, Trumpism is not conservatism, but a populist mix of protectionism, nativism, isolationism and authoritarianism. The remaining Republican candidates would support Trump, whom they had supported in both his elections and praise for his presidency, if he were the GOP nominee again, even if he were convicted of felonies. Trump has been indicted by grand juries for various federal and state crimes, including election interference in both 2016 and 2020, and stealing federal documents, including many that were classified top secret. The Trump alternative candidates have not ruled out pardoning him or even the insurrectionists he inspired who assaulted the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 to try to keep Trump in power by thwarting the constitutional process of the Congressional certification of the votes of the Electoral College for President and Vice President. Trump had lost the election, which was confirmed by Republican elections officials, federal and state Judges, and members of Congress, and officers from his own Administration with relevant responsibilities. But there is still hope for anti-Trump Republicans, as there are five strategies to deny Trump or a Trumpist the nomination or the presidency, short of backing a liberal Democratic ticket in the General Election to deter Republicans from continuing to back the losing strategy of offering Trumpism to the electorate. A qualified true conservative (non-Trumpist) candidate could still enter the Republican primaries, or at least one could be chosen by Delegates to the Republican National Convention, if they were free to vote their consciences for someone who actually believes in the party’s conservative platform, as they had been before 2016, especially if a rule were adopted against backing a nominee convicted of federal felonies, for example. The Republican National Committee is also empowered to withdraw a nomination after the Convention and choose a non-Trumpist conservative. An independent conservative Republican could seek the presidency in the General Election as part of an independent or third-party ticket. Finally, Republican Presidential Electors could choose a non-Trumpist as President. Republicans do not have to acquiesce to a leader with poor character, contempt for the Constitution, and a lack of shared conservative principles, if they prefer instead to win elections and effectuate conservative policies.