The Flip Flop Trump Club
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Claire Merchlinsky/The New York Times; Images by Mary981, via Getty Images
You could call it a glorious moment of party unity. Or a craven display of political flip-flopping and bootlicking. Either way, the Republican Party’s nominating convention was an impressive show of force by its undisputed leader, Donald Trump, who has vanquished all comers to rally his party around the MAGA flag.
This was not the foregone conclusion it may now seem. Heading into the primary elections, plenty of Republicans were desperately casting about for a Trump alternative, and plenty of challengers were auditioning for the position. But you can’t fight the base, and as it became clear that Republican voters were going to stick with Mr. Trump, his skeptics and critics fell into line one by one.
And so this week we saw a parade of onetime heretics ascend the convention stage to bend the knee and offer their tributes to Mr. Trump: Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ted Cruz, Elise Stefanik, just to name a few — and, of course, JD Vance, now Mr. Trump’s running mate and heir apparent to the MAGA movement.
Some of the prodigal speakers were more effusive in their praise than others. Some looked more pained than others. (Poor Nikki.) But the overarching message was clear: The G.O.P. is Mr. Trump’s party, now more than ever.
JD Vance
Mr. Trump’s running mate
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I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy. I never liked him.
– PBS interview, Oct. 2016
I think that I’m going to vote third-party because I can’t stomach Trump. I think that he’s noxious and is leading the white working class to a very dark place.
– NPR interview, Aug. 2016
For the last eight years, President Trump has given everything he has to fight for the people of our country. He didn’t need politics, but the country needed him.
President Trump represents America’s last best hope to restore what, if lost, may never be found again: a country where a working-class boy born far from the halls of power can stand on this stage as the next vice president of the United States of America.
– 2024 Republican National Convention
Nikki Haley
Former presidential candidate, governor and U.N. ambassador
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The problem with Trump is he’s never been anywhere near a uniform.
The closest he’s come to harm’s way is a golf ball hitting him on a golf cart.
How many more times do we have to lose before we realize that he is the problem. He lost in 2018. He lost in 2020. He lost in ’22. And he lost last week. This is a pattern that’s going to lead us to a President Kamala Harris if we don’t change course.
– Fox News interview, Feb. 2024
Three million illegal immigrants came in under Trump's watch because the asylum laws weren't strong enough.
– Campaign event, Feb. 2024
I’ll start by making one thing perfectly clear: Donald Trump has my strong endorsement, period.
When Donald Trump was president, Putin did nothing. No invasions. No wars. That was no accident. Putin didn’t attack Ukraine because he knew Donald Trump was tough. A strong president doesn’t start wars. A strong president prevents wars.
Under Donald Trump, we didn’t have the border disaster we have today, and we won’t when he is president again.
– 2024 Republican National Convention
Ron DeSantis
Governor of Florida and former presidential candidate
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I think all pro-lifers should know that he’s preparing to sell you out.
– Radio Iowa interview, Sept. 2023
You can be the most worthless Republican in America, but if you kiss the ring, he’ll say you’re wonderful. You can be the strongest, most dynamic, successful Republican and conservative in America, but if you don’t kiss that ring, then he’ll try to trash you.
– Campaign event, Jan. 2024
Life was more affordable when Donald Trump was president. Our border was safer under the Trump administration, and our country was respected when Donald Trump was our commander in chief.
Now, Donald Trump stands in their way and he stands up for America. Donald Trump has been demonized, he’s been sued, he’s been prosecuted, and he nearly lost his life. We cannot let him down and we cannot let America down.
– 2024 Republican National Convention
Vivek Ramaswamy
Entrepreneur and former presidential candidate
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What Trump did last week was wrong. Downright abhorrent. Plain and simple.
– Tweet following Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot
The loser of the last election refused to concede the race, claimed the election was stolen, raised hundreds of millions of dollars from loyal supporters and is considering running for executive office again. I’m referring, of course, to Donald Trump.
– Mr. Ramaswamy's 2022 book, “Nation of Victims”
If you want to seal the border, vote Trump. If you want to restore law and order in this country, vote Trump. If you want to reignite the economy in this country, vote Trump.
There is one more reason I’m going to ask you to vote Trump, and it’s the most important one. It’s the one the media won’t talk about, but it’s the truth. Donald Trump is the president who will actually unite this country not through empty words, but through action.
– 2024 Republican National Convention
Elise Stefanik
Representative from New York
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I think in the presidential field, there are some candidates — who over the long run and they’ve already started this process — are somewhat disqualifying themselves with untruthful statements.
– WAMC Public Radio interview, Dec. 2015
President Trump will bring back moral leadership to the White House, condemning antisemitism and standing strong with Israel and the Jewish people. President Trump will once again deliver the most secure border in our nation’s history and unleash the American economy, and he will bring peace through strength as commander in chief, standing with our allies and causing our enemies to fear us. President Trump has done it before and he will do it again.
– 2024 Republican National Convention
Ted Cruz
Senator from Texas and former presidential candidate
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Donald Trump’s consistently disgraceful behavior is beneath the office we are seeking and we are not going to follow.
– Tweet, March 2016
This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truth and lies.
– Campaign event, May 2016
God bless Donald J. Trump. And let me start by giving thanks to God almighty for protecting President Trump and for turning his head on Saturday as the shot was fired.
Here’s the good news: We can fix it. And when Donald Trump is president, we will fix it. We know this because he’s done it before.
– 2024 Republican National Convention
Marco Rubio
Senator from Florida and former presidential candidate
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He runs on this idea that he is fighting for the little guy. But he has spent his entire career sticking it to the little guy.
You all have friends who are thinking about voting for Donald Trump. Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.
– Campaign event, Feb. 2016
For years to come, there are many people on the right, in the media and voters at large that are going to be having to explain and justify how they fell into this trap of supporting Donald Trump.
– CNN interview, March 2016
By giving voice to everyday Americans, President Trump has not just transformed our party, he has inspired a movement. A movement of the people who grow our food and drive our trucks, the people who make our cars and build our homes, the people whose taxes fund our government, and whose children fight our wars.
My fellow Americans, the only way to make America wealthy and safe and strong again is to make Donald J. Trump our president again.
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