Republicans Rally to Support Trump’s Potential Bid for Re-Election in 2024.
As the primary proponent of the “Big Lie” — a right-wing political theory that Trump was the true winner of the 2020 presidential race, and Joe Biden illegally stole the election — Trump has millions of Americans praying for his return to office. Source: Wall Street Journal
In anticipation of the 2024 election cycle, countless Americans on both sides of the aisle wonder if former president Donald Trump will pursue a bid for re-election, despite losing his position of power in 2020. As the primary proponent of the “Big Lie” — a right-wing political theory that Trump was the true winner of the 2020 presidential race, and Joe Biden illegally stole the election — Trump has millions of Americans praying for his return to office. Only one president in American history ever lost his bid for re-election and came back four years later to successfully reclaim the seat: Grover Cleveland, who served from 1885 to 1889 and then 1893 to 1897.
This unique case, though, poses significant differences to Trump’s potential run in 2024. First, Cleveland’s relationship with Benjamin Harrison — the candidate who defeated him in the 1888 election — was the opposite of the Trump versus Biden dynamic, both between the individuals and around the nation as a whole. After his loss, Cleveland attended Harrison’s inauguration and acted graciously toward the incumbent. Trump notoriously failed to make an appearance at Biden’s inauguration. Additionally, the American public was divided on the grounds of tariff reform in 1888, an issue that arguably engendered less emotion than the divisive topics of 2020 (COVID-19, gun rights, abortion rights, immigration, etc.). This key difference between the 1888 and 2020 political climates also demonstrates how Cleveland could win back the votes he lost, whereas Trump exists in a far more polarized America.
Many pro-Trump Republicans, though, continue to push the narrative that Trump is a viable candiate for their party in 2024. Politico reported in May that Trump has confided in allies his plans to run again as long as he remains healthy. One of his closest allies, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), has affirmed this speculation, saying it is “more likely than not that he does” run for re-election, especially if the Republican Party does well in the 2022 midterms. Some GOP leaders, however, are promoting the idea that maybe Trump isn’t the best man for the job, given that more competitive candidates are likely to emerge.
Some frequent names being thrown around in GOP circles include Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida; Ted Cruz, Texas senator; and former vice president Mike Pence. All three Republicans spoke out against Biden’s actions in Afghanistan on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Many potential GOP contenders have also begun visiting battleground states such as Iowa to test out the waters for their campaigns. Florida Senator Marco Rubio, in addition to Cruz and Pence, are among these visitors.
As other candidates emerge, however, most Republicans remain loyal to Trump 2024. A poll conducted in August showed 72% of conservatives believe Trump should be the nominee for the GOP, with his highest support from Republicans lacking college degrees. Despite the plethora of other candidates and the time that has passed since Trump led the GOP, countless Republicans remain loyal to his bid, which offers the potential to propel him once again to the frontline of the GOP race.