He may have once said, “we’re gonna win so much, you may even get tired of winning.” But, former US president Donald Trump–and now a presidential hopeful once more–has been collecting losses of support from his former allies and staunch supporters.
The latest to jump off the Trump train is private equity firm Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, a Republican megadonor who was close to the former president during his campaign and tenure at the White House.
“It is time for the Republican Party to turn to a new generation of leaders and I intend to support one of them in the presidential primaries,” Schwarzman said in a statement to Axios.
The Blackstone chief follows the move of hedge fund Citadel’s Ken Griffin distancing from Trump, even going as far as endorsing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Griffin, like Schwarzman, is also a top GOP donor.
While Trump may not need the financial support, the public acknowledgement of shifts in alliances could speak volumes on how the rest of the Republican party will fall in line.
However, another major loss to the Trump campaign is his daughter Ivanka Trump, who announced her distancing from his father’s third presidential run.
“This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics. While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena,” the eldest Trump child said in a statement.
The former first daughter was instrumental in her father’s campaigns and the subsequent incumbency at the White House. For most of his single term in office, his daughter was an advisor to the office of the president and director of the Office of Economic Initiatives and Entrepreneurship.
Even before Trump’s announcement of his presidential bid, a number of Republicans have voiced out finding an “alternative” party leader to possibly challenge the current sitting president, Joe Biden.
“I think that’s up to the American people,” former Vice President Mike Pence responded in an interview when asked if Trump should be president again. “But I think we’ll have better choices in the future.”
Trump’s former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted a cryptic insinuation that the ex-president’s recent rant on Truth Social following the midterms results might not be the path to gaining a solid conservative base. “Conservatives are elected when we deliver. Not when we just rail on social media,” he said.
“The party’s just tired of losing,” former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie–an ex-Trump aide–said in a Bloomberg interview. “I remember Donald Trump was the guy who said we were going to do so much winning that we would ask him to stop winning because we were tired of winning. Well, that’s hardly been the case.”
Mogul Rupert Murdoch reportedly told Trump that he and his media outfits will not support him in his 2024 bid, unlike his previous election campaigns. The media magnate also seems to be distancing from his once pal Trump, with his publications packaging Ron DeSantis as the future of the Republican party.
DeSantis seems to be the strongest contender to challenge Trump for the nomination. Other names that are being floated include Pence and Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney–who commented on the former president’s announcement, saying “he will never be president again.”
Information for this briefing was found via Axios and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
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