'Put country first': Ex-RNC chair slams Susan Collins’ 'noncommittal non-endorsement' of Trump

02 February 2024

In 2009 and 2010, Michael Steele chaired the Republican National Committee (RNC) and often butted heads with then-President Barack Obama. But in 2024, Steele — although still a Republican — is a Never Trump conservative who is rooting for Democratic President Joe Biden's reelection campaign.

In an op-ed published by MSNBC's website on February 2, Steele calls out Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) for not being more forceful in her criticism of 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump.

When the Portland Press Herald recently asked Susan Collins if she was endorsing Trump's 2024 campaign, she replied, "I do not at this point, no" — a response Steele obviously views as wishy-washy.

In light of the threat that Trump poses to U.S. democracy, Steele argues, Collins and other Republicans who still have scruples need to take a much firmer stand.

"On one hand, this noncommittal non-endorsement could be seen as a brave move," the former RNC chair and ex-Maryland lieutenant governor argues. "Republicans have been cast out of the party for less. On the other, we've seen this script before. In February 2020, Collins voted to acquit Trump after the House impeached him for pressuring Ukraine to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden. At the time, she explained her vote by telling CBS News that Trump learned 'a pretty big lesson.' Collins added, 'I believe that he will be much more cautious in the future.'"

Steele continues, "That caution flew out the window on January 6, 2021. Apparently, Collins learned a lesson herself. At Trump's second impeachment trial, she was one of just seven Republican senators who voted to convict him for incitement of insurrection."

In his op-ed, Steele gives Collins more credit than he gives most 2024 Republicans, lamenting that many of them are "bending the knee to Trump" even though he "faces 91 felony counts in four separate criminal cases." But in light of how "dangerous" Trump is, Steele emphasizes, lukewarm or tepid criticism is not enough.

"This moment in American history requires leaders who put country first, even when they and their political futures are threatened," Steele emphasizes. "Republican leaders who continue to prioritize party over country will be consumed by the selfishness and narcissism of Trump and his minions further undermining the values of our nation. If our elected leaders keep chipping at those values and tearing at the seams of our democracy, it becomes harder for this great experiment to continue. The answer, Sen. Collins, isn't 'at this point, no.' It's just 'no.'"

Michael Steele's full MSNBC op-ed is available at this link.

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