The US Republican Party and the long shadow of Donald Trump

Donald Trump lost the 2020 US election and his role in the January 2021 congressional attack is under investigation. But that hasn’t stopped the former president from continuing to dominate the Republican Party, where he has hardly any challenger.

The 75-year-old billionaire will give a speech on Saturday at the Grand Annual Conference of American conservatives, the Consumer Protection Committee, in Orlando (Florida), an opportunity to check once again the great popularity he is reaping among his followers.

In many red hats with the slogan ‘Make America Great Again’ and in speeches, such as that of Republican Senator Ted Cruz, with mockery and attacks on figures hated by conservatives.

“Trump is so popular that whatever his position, most Republicans feel they have to agree with him or at least not over-criticize him,”says Aubrey Jewitt, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida. “Because if they do, he will take revenge politically.”

Past and future of the party –

Whether they want it or not, Republicans must continue to engage with their leader in this key year of midterm legislative elections, with the political risks involved in some of their statements.

Last month, Trump, for example, suggested that he could pardon those who participated in the January 6 attack. A few words are hardly opposed by a handful of Republicans like New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu.

The former president also remains determined to ensure that elections are stolen, despite the fact that 50% of Republican voters want to forget about these accusations and look to the future, according to a poll published this month by the political site.

“Many Republican leaders and campaign leaders want to put that behind them,”he says…