Should you thought this is able to be the week Republicans grew a backbone and stood as much as President Donald Trump’s lawlessness, embrace of murderous dictators over American allies, infliction of struggling by way of inconsiderate cuts to the federal workforce, and even declaration that he’s a “king,” properly … you’d be fallacious.
Republicans have overwhelmingly held their tongues, refusing to criticize Trump for his damaging habits and appearing as if they’re powerless to cease his rampage by way of the federal authorities.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who as soon as slammed former President Barack Obama as a “king,” had no grievance when Trump declared himself one on Tuesday.
In actual fact, Paul wrote a submit on X that very same day, describing how superior he thought Trump’s first month in workplace has been:
A number of individuals could have seen that I resisted an enthusiastic endorsement of Donald Trump through the election. However now, I’m amazed by the Trump cupboard (lots of whom I might have picked). I like his message to the Ukrainian warmongers, and alongside together with his DOGE initiative exhibits I used to be fallacious to withhold my endorsement. So right now, admittedly a bit of tardy, I give Donald Trump my enthusiastic endorsement! (Too little too late some will say, however, , it’s honest, there’s that.) Don’t count on this endorsement to be fawning. I nonetheless assume tariffs are a horrible concept, however Dios Mio, what braveness, what tenacity. Go @realDonaldTrump Go!
Different Republicans have been silent about Trump’s king declaration, which might have been the lead story for days on right-wing cable if a Democratic president had mentioned the identical factor.
As for the Trump and co-President Elon Musk’s sloppy effort to intestine the federal workforce—which unintentionally led to the ouster of important employees who’re sustaining the nation’s nuclear arsenal, making an attempt to cease the chicken flu from turning into the following pandemic, and managing a fund that pays for remedy for 9/11 survivors and first responders—Republicans threw up their arms and mentioned there’s nothing they will do.
“Congress can’t do anything except complain about it,” Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa advised reporters in Iowa, based on Radio Free Iowa, “however I feel we now have to have sympathy and
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, left, stands with Kash Patel, the newly minted FBI director, within the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 30, 2025.
understanding for those that are laid off.”
In actual fact, most Republicans mentioned they’re tremendous with slashing the federal workforce, and have had solely tepid criticism of the Trump administration’s poor execution of these cuts.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine mentioned Trump and Musk, who helps push the cuts to the federal workforce, have to decelerate as a result of “they’re making mistakes.”
“This latest example of individuals who were studying bird flu being fired from the Department of Agriculture is a perfect example. Another is that they mistakenly put in charge of the FBI, a person that they didn’t intend to be in charge temporarily of the FBI, that’s what happens when you move too fast and you don’t take the time to do a careful evaluation,” Collins advised HuffPost’s Igor Bobic.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, mentioned Trump and Musk have their hearts in the correct place however that their execution has been off.
Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, left, and Susan Collins of Maine discuss within the U.S. Capitol on June 23, 2022.
“I share the administration’s goal of reducing the size of the federal government, but this approach is bringing confusion, anxiety, and now trauma to our civil servants—some of whom moved their families and packed up their whole lives to come here,” Murkowski mentioned in a submit on X. “Indiscriminate workforce cuts aren’t efficient and won’t fix the federal budget, but they will hurt good people who have answered the call to public service to do important work for our nation.”
Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, who occupies a district that Democrat Kamala Harris gained within the 2024 presidential election, echoed related sentiments.
“Before making cuts rashly, the Administration should be studying and staffing to see what the consequences are. Measure twice before cutting. They have had to backtrack multiple times,” Bacon mentioned.
However the dumbest remark got here from Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Alabama Republican who is happy that Trump and Musk are going to make cuts on the Division of Protection subsequent.
“I wouldn’t be against them taking it from a Pentagon to a Trigon. Cut a couple sides off of it,” Tuberville mentioned, apparently not conscious {that a} form with three sides is named a triangle.
Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama
In the meantime, even when Republicans disagreed with what the Trump administration was doing, they refused to say Trump was accountable, talking in circles to attempt to keep away from angering Pricey Chief Don.
Numerous Republicans criticized Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s efforts to pressure an election in Ukraine, however didn’t criticize Trump for siding with Putin in that effort.
“Putin is now asking for a new election in Ukraine, conducted in a specific manner that he can influence, so that he can install his puppet and accomplish that which he couldn’t militarily. Nice try, Vladimir. Try holding a free and fair election in your own country first without imprisoning your opponents. You have zero credibility and the United States and Europe will not cave to your ridiculous demands,” Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Republican, of Pennsylvania, mentioned in a submit on X, although Trump can be pushing for Ukraine to carry an election.
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York wrote a equally powerful submit on X about Putin—however by no means as soon as mentioned Trump was fallacious for embracing him.
“Vladimir Putin is a vile dictator and thug, who has worked in a concerted effort with China and Iran to undermine and destabilize the United States, Europe, Israel, and the free world. He is not our friend, nor our ally,” Lawler wrote.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the press close to a nuclear energy plant in Ukraine on Feb. 13, 2025.
Trump aired an opposing sentiment on Wednesday, when he falsely described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a dictator. And when Thune was requested if he additionally views the Zelenskyy that approach, Thune responded, “The president speaks for himself.”
Murkowski performed dumb when requested for her response to Trump’s Zelenskyy remark.
“I would like to see that in context, because I would certainly never refer to President Zelenskyy as a dictator,” Murkowski mentioned.
And Sen. Roger Wicker, Republican of Mississippi, mentioned he was going to ask the White Home for “clarification” about what Trump meant when he referred to as Zelenskyy a dictator—as if Trump’s remark didn’t communicate for itself.
As Trump as soon as mentioned, he may shoot somebody in the course of Fifth Avenue and never lose any voters. The identical, apparently, goes for Republican members of Congress.
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