Vulnerable Republican senators up for re-election are putting distance between themselves and President Donald Trump as he continues to downplay the coronavirus and create more complications for lawmakers.
As Election Day draws near, more and more conservatives are becoming uncomfortable with the level of uncertainty that looms as a result of Trump's impulsive actions and erratic behavior. In a matter of seven days, poll results signaled a plummet in Republicans' support following Trumps' disastrous first presidential debate against Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
According to presidential historical Douglas Brinkley, the series of events that have transpired could be the beginning of an unraveling Republican Party as the president continues to veer further away from traditional politics, reports The Washington Post.
"It's a Republican Party unraveling," presidential historian Douglas Brinkley said. "They're seeking to rid themselves of Trump at this juncture but realize they can't quite yet. But they know his name is no longer kinetic on the campaign trail."
Republican consultant and Trump detractor, Rick Tyler, also weighed in with his observation of the Republican Party describing their current problems as "cracks and fissures all over the ice."
"There are cracks and fissures all over the ice," Tyler said. "The president spent months ignoring the virus and talking about the economy coming back. But when the president catches the virus and the economy doesn't come back, what do you do? You try to survive."
The latest remarks come just days after Trump caused the stock market to crash after he abruptly ended stimulus negotiations. On Tuesday, the president impulsively took to Twitter announcing that would he would be ending stimulus negotiations until after the election.
"I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business," Trump tweeted.
Last week, an avalanche of setbacks also contributed to sharp declines for the president and Republican lawmakers. In a matter of just one week, Trump faced backlash for his erratic debate behavior, his passivity regarding white supremacy, his refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, his xenophobic attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and a number of other issues.
Then, he sparked a media firestorm when he tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. The weekend also led to more scrutiny as his medical team remained mum about his condition and treatment.
On Sunday, Trump also faced backlash for endangering his own secret servicemen for the sake of a publicity stunt. Despite being COVID-positive, he had secret servicemen drive him around the perimeter of the hospital so he could wave to a small group of supporters who were gathered outside of the hospital. On Monday, the president was discharged from the hospital. Despite having been hospitalized for the virus, Trump reverted back to downplaying the virus. He has spent his entire week behind closed doors engaging in hostile tweet storms attacking various Democratic leaders.
Since last week, more than 30 White House officials and staffers who work in close proximity with the president have tested positive for coronavirus. Based on the timeline of events, there is speculation many may have tested positive after attending the Rose Garden event for Trump's Supreme Court nominee. Most attendees did not wear masks or practice social distance. Everything that has transpired continues to impact Republicans' approval ratings further placing Senate seats in jeopardy.