For years now, Republicans have smothered Donald Trump in compliments, made pilgrimages to Mar-a-Lago and even sorted out his favorite Starbursts as personal gifts — all to win four of the most sought-after words in Republican politics: “Complete and Total Endorsement.”
Trump’s seal of approval is often the difference in GOP primaries, with Trump’s endorsement record in primaries standing at 93% in 2022 and 97% in 2020. (His general election success rate is far lower: 83% in 2022 and 78% in 2020.) But this year, flattery seems to be factoring less into Trump’s endorsements than electoral viability. And the former president’s decisions are raising eyebrows — and blood pressures — in far-right circles.
In the case of House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, Trump’s endorsement seems to come down to two things: viability and, more than anything, vengeance.