'Trouble for the GOP': Robert Reich explains how TrumpWorld could give Democrats hope for the 2022 midterm elections

Republicans still lost in TrumpWorld may be giving Democratic lawmakers all the political ammunition they need to maintain control of both chambers of government, according to political commentator Robert Reich.

In a new op-ed published by The Guardian, Reich highlighted a growing trend former President Donald Trump has begun to embrace. Fighting to maintain the support of his base, Trump has resorted to holding campaign-style rallies to connect with supporters.

Reich pointed out some of the glaring, yet disturbing, details from one of Trump's recent rallies. He wrote, "One hint came at a Houston-area Trump rally Saturday night. 'If I run and if I win,' the former guy said, referring to 2024, 'we will treat those people from January 6th fairly.' He then added, 'and if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons, because they are being treated so unfairly.'”

He continued, "Trump went on to demand 'the biggest protest we have ever had' if federal prosecutors in Washington or in New York and Atlanta, where cases against him are moving forward, 'do anything wrong or illegal'. He then called the federal prosecutors 'vicious, horrible people' who are “not after me, they’re after you.'”

While Trump sees this type of rhetoric as firing up his base, Reich argues otherwise. In fact, he sees Trump's latest ploy as a door of opportunity for Democrats.

"If Trump keeps at it – and of course he will – he’ll help the Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections by reminding the public of the attempted coup he and his Republican co-conspirators tried to pull off between the 2020 election and January 6. That would make the midterm election less of a referendum on Biden than on the Republican party." - Robert Reich

He went on to point out how Trump's rhetoric could ultimately backfire for the Republican Party. Some Republican lawmakers believe Democratic governing speaks for itself and would be enough to motivate their base to vote, but according to Reich, this could backfire if they fail to lay out a specific agenda. It would ultimately leave the party with a message coming from one political source: TrumpWorld.

"If Republicans fail to offer an agenda, the Republican party’s midterm message is even more likely to be defined by Trump and Trumpers like Gingrich: the big lie that the 2020 election was stolen along with promises to pardon the January 6 defendants, jail members of the select committee investigating the attack on the Capitol, and other bonkers claims and promises," Reich warned.

He added, "This would spell trouble for the GOP, because most Americans don’t believe the big lie and remain appalled by the attack on the Capitol.'

In addition to his condemnation of the law, Trump is also honing in on the grievances of white supremacists. Former Republican lawmaker Newt Gingrich has also made suggestions similar to Trump's while calling for members of the House Select Committee to be jailed if Republicans manage to regain control of the House.

Responding to his remarks, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) weighed in on Gingrich's remarks with a statement that ultimately explains how Trump's behavior is contributing to the assault on America's democracy. “A former speaker of the House is threatening jail time for members of Congress who are investigating the violent January 6 attack on our Capitol and our constitution," Cheney said. "This is what it looks like when the rule of law unravels.”