Last updated: November 25, 2024 at 1:55 p.m.
President Trump is threatening Republican senators with Elon Musk’s money if they vote against attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz.
ABC News reported:
Well, Trump called. He has ramped up the pressure on Senate Republicans, calling some directly. That’s because JD Vance is also pitching. He went up to the Capitol yesterday with Matt Gaetz and met with some Senate Republicans. and we were told by trump Officials Those meetings were said to have been productive, but behind the scenes the Trump campaign was taking a hard line, offering an ominous warning to Senate Republicans who might oppose Trump’s nominee. It is also said that
One Trump adviser told our John Karl that the message is, “If you’re on the wrong side of the ballot, you buy yourself a primary.” That’s it. And there’s a guy named Elon Musk who’s trying to fund it. Trump’s adviser added that the president can decide on Cabinet members. There’s no one else.
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ABC News reported that the Trump campaign issued the following warning to Republican senators considering voting against Matt Gaetz:
“If you’re on the wrong side of the ballot, you’re going to win yourself a primary. That’s it. And there’s a guy named Elon Musk funding it.” pic.twitter.com/d1T3KbYAXr
— Republicans Against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) November 21, 2024
This match is not about Matt Gates. It’s a question of power. Mr. Trump is trying to disrupt Senate Republicans and force them to relinquish their constitutional authority to Mr. Trump. President Trump has already escalated to threatening a primary because Senate Republicans refuse to relinquish power.
The problem is that sitting senators rarely lose, and even more rarely do they lose in the primary. Major threats work well in the House, but less so in the Senate. Additionally, time is on Senate Republicans’ side, as the next election isn’t until 2026 and Trump won’t be gone until 2028.
The idea that the president is the only person who can decide on the cabinet is incorrect. Trump is trying to rewrite the Constitution using threats and Elon Musk’s money, but Matt Gaetz is his touchstone.
