President Donald Trump’s pre- and post-2022 election behavior has some critics crying foul, blaming him for the lack of a substantive “red wave” on election night.
This behavior includes him making it seem like he was about to announce his presidential run during a rally Monday night for Ohio Senate candidate J.D. Vance.
To Trump’s credit, he did ultimately decide to delay the announcement by a week.
“I’m going to be making a very big announcement on Tuesday, November 15. We want nothing to detract from the importance of tomorrow. You understand that,” he said.
But critics said that this act in itself counted as an unnecessary distraction.
“When someone says they don’t want to detract, get ready for some detracting. Trump is all about Trump and after months of being on the sidelines – good months for Republicans – Trump had to make it all about him. Again,” longtime GOP strategist Douglas Heye bemoaned to the Daily Mail.
Also, during a separate rally over the weekend, the former president unnecessarily insulted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by referring to him as “Ron DeSanctimonious.”
Critics said the former president’s words were purposefully meant to hurt DeSantis and make him look like a “less attractive” presidential candidate. Critics called this attack “childish,” “pathetic,” “moronic,” and selfish.
“I have NO problem with Trump sparring with @GovRonDeSantis after they both announce their candidacy for 2024. But Trump trashing DeSantis days before the Midterms is politically moronic, and 100% on brand for the man who sees every issue through one lens: TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP,” one critic wrote on Twitter.
I have NO problem with Trump sparring with @GovRonDeSantis after they both announce their candidacy for 2024.
But Trump trashing DeSantis days before the Midterms is politically moronic, and 100% on brand for the man who sees every issue through one lens: TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP
— Ian Haworth (@ighaworth) November 6, 2022
The problem, critics added, was that the president made the midterms about his own personal beefs instead of about helping the Republican Party win.
The president’s post-election behavior has been much of the same, with Trump at one point celebrating a Republican losing his election because said Republican had been backed by DeSantis:
Joe O’Dea is a proxy candidate in the war between Trump and DeSantis. DeSantis endorsed O’Dea. Trump intends to shame him for it. https://t.co/AMjC2p72Wu
— David Jolly (@DavidJollyFL) November 9, 2022
This especially ticked off critics, who argued that someone this self-absorbed, who cares more about his personal petty beefs than the party as a whole, should not be leading the party, period.
Look (*Language warning):
Trump is starting to piss me off and I can’t be the only one.
— Knice (@allaboutDC8) November 9, 2022
Narcissistic jerk. This type of behavior is part of why he lost the Independent vote.
— Nikki90 (@nickij64) November 9, 2022
He’s a child who should go away; yer, he’ll most likely drag down the GOP once again in confusion, derision, divisiveness, and buffoonery.
— Sean (@SeanThinksIt) November 9, 2022
I like what Trump did for our country while he was president. But he often puts his foot in his mouth which is so frustrating.
— melanie (@F5Melanie) November 9, 2022
Nothing new there.
Trump isn’t a Republican and doesn’t give a toss about the party itself.
Everything is to serve his vanity.
It’s just a shame the Republicans were too scared to tell him to f*ck off after 2020.
— Jon Harper (@CentreGround6) November 9, 2022
It doesn’t help either that many of the candidates Trump backed wound up going down in defeat on election night, including it would seem Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake (though her race wasn’t quite closed as of Wednesday morning), Pennsylvania Senate candidate Mehmet Oz, and Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano.
Kari Lake over Karrin Robson
Doug Mastriano over Lou Barletta
Mehmet Oz over Dave McCormick
JR MajewskiTrump’s big November 15 announcement should be an endorsement of Ron DeSantis for president in 2024.
We can do better.
— max (@MaxNordau) November 9, 2022
Conversely, Trump’s apparent arch-nemesis, Florida Gov. DeSantis, performed extraordinarily well, defeating his opponent by double digits.
With the election now over, critics say all this behavior — being a distraction, rooting against Republicans, and even celebrating Republicans losing — is more than enough reason for Republicans to ditch Trump going into 2024.
Otherwise, critics warn, Republicans will go down in defeat once more — this time during a crucial presidential race.
If GOP picks anyone besides @GovRonDeSantis in 2024 they will get every inch of the losing they deserve! They must get rid of Trump or they will continue to lose like this! Celebrating tonight as a win is a Total disgrace. The GOP and Trump lost tonight accept it!
— Mike Matusow (@themouthmatusow) November 9, 2022
Indeed, to hear many Republicans tell it, the very reason Republicans performed so poorly during this year’s election was precisely because of Trump.
Ron DeSantis turned Purple Florida into Solid Red. Donald Trump cost us 3-5 Senate seats. The choice in 2024 is very clear should not even be close.
— Chris H | Election Forecasts (@chws747) November 9, 2022
It’s DeSantis or nothing in 2024.. Kari Lake is a bust and Trump cost us the midterms
— Dan (@NotoriousD87) November 9, 2022
There’s a very real possibility Trump has cost us the senate majority two elections in a row.
— Supreme Puntiff Jeff (@JeffCatholic) November 9, 2022
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