Congressional Republicans have found themselves in a situation where “they have no choice” but to side with President Donald Trump, regardless of whether it will drag them down in the midterms. This is according to new reporting by Puck published Wednesday, in which a Republican strategist revealed the “Stockholm Syndrome” that keeps GOP lawmakers chained to Trump.
As Huck reporter Leigh Ann Caldwell explains, “In the past, unpopular presidents have given candidates leeway to criticize them if it will improve their odds. George W. Bush encouraged Republicans to play up their differences during the tough 2006 and 2008 cycles, while Barack Obama strategically avoided campaigning for certain candidates.” According to veteran Democratic strategist David Axelrod, ‘While our numbers were better than Trump’s are today, we knew where we were and tried to respect the immediate interests of candidates in places where we might not be helpful.'"
This is not the case for candidates under Trump. According to Caldwell, “Independence is not an option when the leader of your party accepts nothing less than absolute fealty, and possesses a seemingly endless capacity for personal grievance. As Republicans know all too well, even a comment perceived as hostile to the president can result in him withdrawing his endorsement or a negative news cycle. G.O.P. candidates are all hoping that some portion of Trump’s $400 million super PAC war chest will trickle down to them, but they might be blackballed if they anger the boss.”
“He doesn’t want them to win without him,” explained one Republican strategist. According to Caldwell, the source spoke on no uncertain terms about the “Stockholm Syndrome that has gripped the party,” saying, “They have no choice. Once you accept that you have no choice, you make decisions accordingly.”
As Caldwell notes, the only Republicans who have shown willingness to push back against Trump are those either not running for reelection or who have already been beaten in their primaries, such as Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Thomas Massie (R-KY). According to Caldwell, “A few swing district lawmakers, like Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Tom Barrett, have attempted to put some daylight between themselves and the president, but only a sliver: Barrett, who has thrice voted to limit Trump’s war powers in Iran, attended a rally with him last week — another indication that candidates can’t really escape the president.”
