{"id":1029312,"date":"2024-01-19T16:42:07","date_gmt":"2024-01-19T16:42:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/democrats.org\/?p=1029312"},"modified":"2024-05-21T17:51:12","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T17:51:12","slug":"maga-malarkey-the-extremism-you-missed-from-republicans-this-week-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/democrats.org\/news\/maga-malarkey-the-extremism-you-missed-from-republicans-this-week-27\/","title":{"rendered":"MAGA Malarkey: The Extremism You Missed From Republicans This Week"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MAGA Republicans stooped to new lows this week with their extremism, hypocrisy, chaos, and \u2014 as President Biden would call it \u2014 malarkey. In case you missed it: Donald Trump boasted about his \u201cvery good relationship\u201d with Kim Jong Un and praised white nationalist and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer. Trump also picked up endorsements from the very same MAGA Republicans he\u2019s been known to criticize and embarrass: Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Doug Burgum.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis blew through millions of dollars to achieve little to nothing in Iowa, and both DeSantis and Haley are still doubling down on attempting to rewrite America\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all know Donald Trump has a penchant for parroting dictators \u2014 this week, he continued to boast about the good relationships he has with them.<\/strong>
<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump<\/a>: \u201cHe\u2019d love to see me back, we had a very good relationship,\u201d he said of his relationship with Kim Jong Un.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump<\/a>: \u201cI know the leaders of the world \u2026 I got along with most of them. The tougher they were, the better I got along.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business Insider<\/a>: \u201cTrump compliments ‘fierce’ and ‘smart’ Putin and applauds Xi Jinping for ruling China with an ‘iron fist’\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Washington Post<\/a>: \u201cTrump calls political enemies \u2018vermin,\u2019 echoing dictators Hitler, Mussolini\u201d
<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New York Times<\/a>: \u201cAnd even as Mr. Hannity tried to clarify that Mr. Trump had no intention of abusing his office, Mr. Trump did not state a clear aversion to the idea of authoritarian power. \u2018This guy, he says, \u201cYou\u2019re not going to be a dictator, are you?\u2019\u2019 Mr. Trump said, referring to Mr. Hannity. \u2018I said, \u201cNo, no, no \u2014 other than Day 1.\u201d We\u2019re closing the border. And we\u2019re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I\u2019m not a dictator.\u2019\u201d
<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jonathan Chait, New York Magazine<\/a>: \u201cThis exchange is best understood as Trump enjoying the idea of himself as dictator. Trump has always admired dictators and has longed to be granted the obsequious deference they are afforded. As president, his favorite moments were trips to places like North Korea, where he spoke admiringly about the way his counterparties were treated. (\u2018He\u2019s the head of the country,\u2019 Trump said of Kim Jong-un. \u2018And I mean, he\u2019s the strong head. Don\u2019t let anyone think anything different. \u2026 He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same.\u2019)\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few months after Trump reportedly backed down from wanting to hire self-acknowledged white nationalist Laura Loomer for his campaign, he\u2019s back to praising her at his rallies. <\/strong>
<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump<\/a>: \u201cA woman who\u2019s really talented. She\u2019s been amazing \u2026 She’s a very important person. \u2026 she\u2019s fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


NBC News<\/a>: \u201cIt was just the latest in a series of promotions and praise Trump has offered Loomer during the campaign, and it has some allies and advisers worried that he\u2019s giving a figure they see as a fringe, far-right activist too close of an embrace \u2014 one that could come back to bite him during a general election campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEarlier this month, Loomer, who has promoted conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and several mass shootings, rode with Trump aboard his plane on a trip to Iowa, and she has suggested she would like to serve as Trump\u2019s press secretary during a second term.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

@NoLieWithBTC<\/a>: \u201cTrump just filmed a video with Laura Loomer, a white nationalist who pushed false flag conspiracy theories about the Parkland school shooting and celebrated the deaths of migrants, calling for \u2018more\u2019 of them to die. He calls her \u2018terrific\u2019 and \u2018special.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New York Times<\/a>: \u201cShe once described Islam as a \u2018cancer\u2019 and tweeted under the hashtag \u2018#proudislamophobe,\u2019 and she has celebrated the deaths of migrants crossing the Mediterranean.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loomer<\/a>: \u201cSomeone asked me, \u2018Are you pro-white nationalism?\u2019 Yes. I\u2019m pro-white nationalism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MAGA Republicans Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Doug Burgum \u2014 who have mercilessly criticized Donald Trump \u2014 lined up to endorse their leader. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ted Cruz, 2016<\/a>: \u201cI’m gonna tell you what I really think of Donald Trump. This man is a pathological liar. He doesn’t know the difference between truth and lies \u2013 he lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth. \u2026 The man cannot tell the truth, but he combines it with being a narcissist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ted Cruz, 2024<\/a>: \u201cI\u2019m proud to endorse Donald Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jennifer Palmieri<\/a>: \u201cTed Cruz knows how dangerous Donald Trump is, obviously he spoke clearly about that in 2016. \u2026 they were there on Jan. 6, he knows what a threat Trump is \u2026 and they continue to prop him up. They, you know, I think it reveals something more deeply cynical about the Republicans that hold onto him, is that they don\u2019t think this republic actually matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Daily Beast<\/a>: \u201cMarco Rubio formally endorsed Donald Trump for president in a post on X Sunday. \u2026 He previously ran against Trump in 2016, during which he called him \u2018an embarrassment\u2019 and a \u2018con artist\u2019 before bowing out of the primary race.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington Post<\/a>: \u201cOver the course of his presidential bid, Sen. Marco Rubio called Donald Trump a \u2018con man\u2019 who was \u2018dangerous\u2019 and unqualified to control the nation\u2019s nuclear codes. He ridiculed the businessman\u2019s manhood and warned he would \u2018fracture\u2019 the Republican Party if he was the nominee. \u2026 But now Rubio is on board, saying \u2026 that he would be \u2018honored\u2019 to help Trump however he can.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mediaite<\/a>: \u201cFox\u2019s MacCallum Brings Receipts to Doug Burgum After He Praises Trump: You Said \u2018You Wouldn\u2019t Want to Do Business with Him\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFox News host Martha MacCallum confronted North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum over past comments he made about Donald Trump, whom he has now endorsed while calling it \u2018an easy decision.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nikki Haley says she doesn\u2019t play for second, but she definitely doesn\u2019t play for first either. After Haley\u2019s campaign surrogate Chris Sununu said Haley would finish a \u201cstrong second\u201d in Iowa and Haley herself said she expected to have a \u201cstrong showing,\u201d she had a disappointing third-place finish.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haley<\/a>: \u201cI don’t play for second.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN<\/a>: \u201cNikki Haley supporters grapple with third place Iowa finish\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New York Post<\/a>: \u201cNH Gov. Chris Sununu predicts Haley primary win, \u2018strong second\u2019 in Iowa as race for GOP nom heats up\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Semafor<\/a>: \u201cWith two weeks to go until the Iowa caucus, presidential candidates are fine-tuning their messaging, blitzing the state with appearances and ads, and \u2014 in Nikki Haley\u2019s case \u2014 setting some clear expectations for the next few months. \u2026 [Chris Sununu] said that Haley would \u2018shock everyone in Iowa with a strong second,\u2019 before winning New Hampshire outright and forcing a \u2018one-on-one\u2019 race with Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haley<\/a>: \u201cI want to get a strong showing in Iowa, a strong showing in New Hampshire, a strong showing in South Carolina.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite heavily investing on the ground in Iowa, DeSantis finished 30 points behind Trump for second place.<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DeSantis<\/a>: \u201cWe\u2019re going to win the caucus. \u2026 We\u2019re going to win Iowa. I think it\u2019s going to help propel us to the nomination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DeSantis<\/a>: \u201cWe\u2019re going to win here in Iowa. We have the organization in place. \u2026 I think it\u2019ll be very clarifying in terms of who is the real deal and who\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New York Times<\/a>: \u201c[DeSantis\u2019s] distant second-place finish had all the feelings of a disaster, given how much time and money he invested in the state, and it calls into question his ability to stay in the nominating contest, with his campaign cash running low and tough tests ahead in New Hampshire and South Carolina.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Des Moines Register<\/a>: \u201cFueled by $82.5 million that DeSantis had raised for his reelection bid and transferred over from a state committee, the Never Back Down super PAC flooded Iowa with door knockers as part of the most robust ground game mounted by any candidate. DeSantis also spent much of the $35 million he raised in his campaign account in Iowa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NBC News<\/a>: \u201cRon DeSantis’ big bet on door-knocking put to the test in Iowa\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith Iowa viewed as a make-or-break state for DeSantis, his allies have pulled resources from elsewhere to focus them there. Three people familiar with this development said Never Back Down recently relocated door-knockers from South Carolina to Iowa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne person who formerly worked on an early-state door-knocking effort on DeSantis\u2019 behalf said Never Back Down \u2018wasted tens of millions of dollars, essentially chasing rural voters who had no interest in Ron DeSantis whatsoever.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haley and DeSantis continued to try to out-MAGA each other by attempting to erase and rewrite American history. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hill<\/a>: \u201cIn an interview on \u2018Fox & Friends,\u2019 co-host Brian Kilmeade asked Haley whether she thinks the GOP is a \u2018racist party.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018No. We\u2019re not a racist country, Brian.  We\u2019ve never been a racist country,\u2019 Haley said in response.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Guardian<\/a>: \u201cRon DeSantis insists US is \u2018not a racist country\u2019, echoing claim by Nikki Haley\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After spending his campaign embracing the extreme MAGA agenda and peddling conspiracy theories, Vivek Ramswamy suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Associated Press<\/a>: \u201cVivek Ramaswamy suspends his 2024 Republican presidential bid and endorses rival Donald Trump\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ramaswamy<\/a>: “Donald Trump needs to be the nominee of this party.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MAGA Republicans stooped to new lows this week with their extremism, hypocrisy, chaos, and \u2014 as President Biden would call it \u2014 malarkey. In case you missed it: Donald Trump boasted about his \u201cvery good relationship\u201d with Kim Jong Un and praised white nationalist and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer. Trump also picked up endorsements from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":263,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1029312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMAGA Malarkey: The Extremism You Missed From Republicans This Week - Democrats<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/democrats.org\/news\/maga-malarkey-the-extremism-you-missed-from-republicans-this-week-27\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Democrats\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-01-19T16:42:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-05-21T17:51:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/democrats.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MAGA-Malarkey.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Claire DePree\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Claire DePree\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/democrats.org\/news\/maga-malarkey-the-extremism-you-missed-from-republicans-this-week-27\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/democrats.org\/news\/maga-malarkey-the-extremism-you-missed-from-republicans-this-week-27\/\",\"name\":\"MAGA Malarkey: The Extremism You Missed From Republicans This Week - 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