During an interview on CNN’s “The Source with Kaitlan Collins,” New York Times correspondent and CNN analyst Maggie Haberman discussed the challenges faced by GOP critics of former President Donald Trump. Haberman highlighted that these critics are in a “box” because openly supporting President Joe Biden could be perceived as “political suicide.”
The conversation arose during a discussion about former Trump National Security Advisor John Bolton, who expressed reluctance to outright support Biden if faced with a choice between Trump and Biden. Haberman acknowledged the complexity for Republicans, especially those with a long history in the party pre-Trump, to openly endorse Biden. She suggested that such critics might find it difficult to take a stance against Trump due to factors like being elected officials, maintaining support from donors or constituents, or other considerations.
Haberman emphasized the political challenges faced by Republicans who oppose Trump, stating that openly supporting Biden might be viewed as a betrayal by their supporters. Despite potential reservations or disagreements with Trump, some critics may refrain from endorsing Biden to avoid political backlash.
Collins and Haberman discussed the dilemma faced by individuals like Bolton and how it could impact the weight of their warnings about Trump’s potential return to the White House. They also mentioned former Attorney General Bill Barr, who, despite expressing concerns about Trump, faced questions about whether he would support the Republican nominee in a subsequent election.
Haberman acknowledged the complexity of the situation, emphasizing that individuals who have worked closely with Trump may face similar questions about their stance on supporting a potential Trump candidacy in the future. The discussion shed light on the political dynamics within the GOP and the challenges faced by those critical of Trump within the party.
COLLINS: What do you make of that, paired with him later saying that it’s kind of 50-50 ball, between whether he thinks Donald Trump or Joe Biden would be worse, in the White House?
HABERMAN: I think it is complicated for Republicans, and especially Republicans, who have a long history, with the Republican Party, pre- Trump, as John Bolton does, to say that they’re going to support Joe Biden. It’s not impossible. And I suspect you will see some doing it.
But I think this is the — this is the box that a lot of people, who oppose Trump, especially people, who have worked either for him directly, or with him in Congress, in some way, have gotten themselves in, which is that they — they can’t say that they are supporting Biden.
They feel like they can’t, for variety of reasons, either because they are elected officials still, or because they still have supporters, or donors, or what have you.
COLLINS: Political suicide.
HABERMAN: Correct. They don’t like — they don’t like Biden. But, at a certain point, I mean, this is — this is — if something is an existential threat, it either is or it isn’t. And I think that this is going to become a difficult line, for a lot of folks, to walk, as the year goes on.
COLLINS: Yes. How do the warnings carry the same weight if, you know? It was the same thing with Bill Barr. We had this long interview with him, over the summer, where he said similar. But then, at the end, you know?
HABERMAN: Right.
COLLINS: What’s he going to do?
HABERMAN: Right.
COLLINS: Support the Republican nominee for President?
HABERMAN: Well, I mean, this is — this is, again, where it gets very complicated.
I will say that John Bolton’s book was a really remarkable book. I don’t — I can’t remember reading a book like that written by anybody, who had served so closely with a president.
The NSC official, who worked on the clearance of that book, was pushed out, by the Trump administration, for approving it, and going through a normal process.
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And so, John Bolton revealed an enormous amount, about Donald Trump as president. And it’s important for the historical record.
But I do think that everybody, who worked for Trump is going to get pressed with the same question.
