Republican Officials Move to Form New Party, Split Off From MAGA GOP

For much of the Trump presidency, Americans watched the Democratic Party teetering on the verge of collapse, or at least some sort of self-immolation.

There was a new, radical wing of the organization finding footholds with the youngest among them, and they were taking direct aim at the moderates and centrists that they were surrounded by.

But now, in the wake of the turbulent final days of the Trump administration, it appears as though the GOP may be the party whose future is somewhat uncertain.

A contingent of former Republican officials are in talks to form a political party that would break away from supporters of former President Trump, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

More than 120 people were on a call on the matter on Friday, including former government employees who worked under the Trump administration, the Reagan administration and both Bush White Houses as well as former GOP members of Congress.

There are some familiar, anti-Trump voices in the mix here.

Evan McMullin, former chief policy director for the House Republican Conference, told Reuters that he co-hosted the call with former officials who fear a large faction of the party is unwilling to stand up to Trump.

“Large portions of the Republican Party are radicalizing and threatening American democracy,” McMullin, who ran an anti-Trump independent presidential campaign in 2016, told Reuters. “The party needs to recommit to truth, reason and founding ideals or there clearly needs to be something new.”

There is a real concern among moderate Republicans that Donald Trump could announce a 2024 presidential bid earlier than other possible candidates, thus “freezing” the GOP in its tracks.