In a recent move, former President Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to distance himself from the disappointing outcomes of the Republican Party in the latest elections. This marked his first public comment following the announcement of the election results on Tuesday.
Trump stated, “Trump’s name was not on the ballot, and the government shutdown were the two main reasons for the Republicans’ losses tonight.” His remarks come after a lack of significant endorsements for certain Republican candidates during the election cycle.
Earlier this year, Trump endorsed New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli during the state’s Republican primaries and participated in phone rallies for candidates in New Jersey and Virginia. However, he notably did not make a public endorsement for Republican nominee Winsome Earl Sears in the Virginia gubernatorial race.
In a last-minute post on Monday, Trump encouraged his supporters to back former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race, where Cuomo faced Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and Democrat Zainab Mufeed. According to CNN’s projections, Ciattarelli, Sears, and Cuomo all lost their respective races, while Mufeed is set to make history as the first Muslim and South Asian mayor, as well as one of the youngest elected mayors in modern history.
Despite the electoral setbacks for his party, Trump quickly shifted his focus to positive metrics, noting that his interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes” received the highest ratings for the show in years. Variety reported that the interview drew more viewers than any in the program’s history since its January 10, 2021, episode that centered on the Capitol riots on January 6.
This recent turn of events highlights the ongoing complexities within the Republican Party and Trump’s continual influence within its ranks, as he navigates both the electoral landscape and his media presence.