According to the most recent Gallup polling, Donald Trump’s approval rating among Republicans stands at 87%. Since Gallup began asking the question, this number has never dipped below 77% (it is worth noting this low point occurred between December 11-17, 2017, which is also when his general polling numbers hit their low of 35%). Republican support for the president, it would then seem, is steadfast despite his myriad of controversies. The party appears to be marching in lockstep, and to defy him within the party seems to be a surefire way to end a political career.

Despite all this, rumors have flown in the last couple of weeks. There has been subtle talk of replacing Donald Trump. There have been whispers of removing his influence on the party.

In the last week, National Review, a right-of-center publication, published an article written by Jonah Goldberg that offers a rationale for why Trump’s Republican approval ratings are so high. The article, in short, rejects the notion that Trump is personally popular. Instead, it suggests that he has strong support because he “fights!”. If this theory is true, then it would follow that a show of weakness on Trump’s part, or a welcome alternative showing up on the scene, could convince Republican voters to abandon the president.

Enter the National Republicans.

Founded in September of 2019, the National Republicans are a group of rank-and-file Republicans working to remove Trump’s influence from the GOP. They believe that Trump is a failed GOP leader.

They cite the party’s poor showing in the 2018 elections, when the GOP lost the House of Representatives as well as seven governorships and hundreds of state seats, as a primary reason for his removal.

They also point to the fact that, while they have worked for the party for decades, Trump was not a Republican until five years ago.

Andy Nilsson, founder and temporary chairman of the National Republicans, defines the three main goals of the organization as:

1. Be a safe haven for Republicans seeking refuge from Trump

2. Be a base of operations for Republicans working outside the RNC structure, which has been absorbed by Team Trump, and

3. Promote the Reagan-Bush legacy of the modern GOP.

Specifically, the National Republicans seek to nominate a Republican other than Trump for the national presidential ticket in 2020, even if this means forming an alternate nominating convention in contrast to the RNC.

This group has reached out across the nation to like-minded Republicans, and begun to form state committees in states such as South Dakota, Utah, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Maryland. It also is seeking endorsements by GOP members on all levels of government, from the local council leaders to members of Congress.

The party has a simple message to party members reluctant to abandon their party; stay GOP, but out of the RNC.

More information on the group is available on either their Twitter account, @NationalRepubl2, or at their Facebook page, National Republicans.

Scott Howard is a constitutionally-minded conservative freelance writer with a focus on fiscal matters and foreign policy. He has been a weekly contributor to The Liberty Hawk. You can follow him on Twitter: Follow @thenextTedCruz

Editor’s Note: Full disclosure – Scott Howard, a consistent contributor here at The Liberty Hawk, has accepted a role with the National Republicans as their South Dakota Coordinator. I have also been approached and am considering a role here in Utah. Despite this, The Liberty Hawk as a media publication makes no endorsement of The National Republicans or their proposal to form a “rump” convention at this time. I am, however, pleased with the creation of any institution whose goal is to reassert the principles and values of modern conservatism that have traditionally been espoused by the Republican Party. – Justin

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

Reddit

