National Review, the conservative and libertarian magazine founded by William Buckley Jr in the 1950s, urged its readers on Wednesday to vote for anyone other than Trump.
Other Options
The two alternatives suggested by the editors of the National Review were Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley. According to polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight, both are more than 45 points behind Trump.
First Reason
National Review argued that other Republican candidates would be more likely to defeat Biden in 2024. According to FiveThirtyEight, polls in January generally show Trump ahead of Biden, and some had Biden ahead of Haley and DeSantis.
Second Reason
The editors of the National Review also contended that other candidates would be “more likely to deliver … conservative results” than Trump. They cited Trump’s tendency to cause “wild drama” as evidence.
Looming Change
Trump’s focus on “personal loyalty” over “ideological convictions,” as the New York Times put it in April 2023, might also hinder the goals of the conservative movement. However, the Heritage Foundation has led an effort to develop a plan to work with Trump should he return to the White House.
Widespread Chaos
Called The 2025 Project, this database of potential conservative officials was created to “prepare an army of vetted, trained staff to begin dismantling the administrative state from Day 1,” the Heritage Foundation’s president said.
Working with Trump
According to the New York Times, the plan was built around the possibility of a Trump return. Many of those who created the database were in Trump’s first administration, including two senior officials who “developed a questionnaire to vet government employees’ loyalty to Mr. Trump.”
Main Reason
Beyond all this, the editors of National Review argue, is Trump’s continued election denial. Trump continues to claim without evidence that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
Lack of Action
“When a mob, fervently believing Trump’s lies, fought its way into the US Capitol to try and end the count,” National Review notes, “Trump did little or nothing to try to stop it.”
Facing Time
Trump’s actions — and inaction — on Jan 6 are the basis for one of the four cases he is currently facing. “The accusations against Trump are grave,” National Review wrote. “They are existential for our democracy when the defendant is asking voters to re-elect him to the presidency.”
Growing Call
National Review joins a growing list of conservative voices who have spoken out against Trump. Liz Cheney has repeatedly warned that a second Trump term would mean the end of democracy. Last week, 19 former Republican representatives published an open letter warning that the charges against Trump were “existential for our democracy.”
Not Over
“Trump feels inevitable,” National Review admitted, “but nothing is settled until Republicans actually caucus and vote. They would be well advised to opt for one of the alternatives.”
More from AllThingsFinance: Court Finally Unseals Secretive Case of Jan 6 Offender
Samuel Lazar sentenced for Jan. 6 insurrection; previously confidential case now revealed: Court Finally Unseals Secretive Case of Jan 6 Offender
Jack Smith continues pushing Judge Cannon, reminding her that “the speedy trial clock” is ticking
Jack Smith urges Judge Aileen Cannon for a speedy trial in a classified documents case involving ex-President Trump: Jack Smith continues pushing Judge Cannon, reminding her that “the speedy trial clock” is ticking
Defamation lawsuit against Kari Lake advances while people compare her to Rudy Giuliani
Kari Lake loses First Amendment right to accuse Maricopa County recorder; Arizona Republic ponders if she’s channeling Rudy Giuliani in her sleep : Defamation lawsuit against Kari Lake advances while people compare her to Rudy Giuliani
More Democrats are flipping in a crucial swing state than Republicans
In Pennsylvania, a significant number of registered Democrats flipping is sending an unflattering signal to President Biden: More Democrats are flipping in a crucial swing state than Republicans
