The Wall Street Journal editorial board is asking their readers if former President Donald Trump is “so great” for the GOP politically, “Why are Republicans shut out of power?”
In an op-ed published on Monday evening, the editorial board warns Republicans if they continue to “focus on the grievances of the Trump past,” they will not govern the majority.
The piece opens by mentioning Trump’s return to politics with his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
“The CPAC crowd cheered his speech, which was largely a collection of greatest political hits,” the editorial board wrote.
They continued, “But if CPAC represented America, Mr. Trump would still reside in the White House, not Mar-a-Lago.”
The op-ed noted Trump lost to President Joe Biden by seven million votes and also lost five states he won in 2016.
“That’s the cold GOP reality as the former President seeks to dominate the party from exile and tease a 2024 comeback,” the board added.
They explained, “We welcome the debate, but if 2020 was so fabulous, why are Republicans shut out of power up and down Pennsylvania Avenue? They have zero influence over the $1.9 trillion spending extravaganza they rightly deplore.”
The writers suggested Democrats are “erasing” Trump’s legacy on certain issues including, taxes, deregulation, energy, education, and “so much more.”
They pointed out Trump’s job approval rating never reached above 50% despite his accomplishments in terms of policies.
“He proceeded to lose the White House on Nov. 3, and he cost the GOP two Georgia Senate races on Jan. 5 as he made his claims of election fraud the main issue rather than checking Mr. Biden and Nancy Pelosi,” the editorial board wrote.
They accused Trump of trying to “rewrite history as someone else’s fault,” specifically “Democrats who cheated, Republicans who won’t ‘fight,’ [and] a cowardly Supreme Court.”
“Mr. Trump had one landmark victory in 2016 but he has cost the GOP dearly since,” the op-ed reads.
The board referenced a part of Trump’s CPAC speech where he said he would not form a third party.
“But he also laid out his political enemies list and is clearly bent on revenge against anyone who voted to impeach or convict him or disagrees with his election claims,” the writers continued.
They argued, “These intra-party fights will sap GOP energy and resources when their priority now should be retaking Congress in 2022.”
The editorial board concluded, “As long as Republicans focus on the grievances of the Trump past, they won’t be a governing majority.”