Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Outgoing US President Donald Trump is mulling launching a new political party of his own—Patriot Party—after his exit from the White House on Wednesday as his successor Joe Biden takes oath as the 46th President of the United States.
He is reported to have discussed this possibility with this close associates, last week, the Wall Street Journal said quoting sources.
If he launches the “Patriot Party”, it will be in line with his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) and “America First” rhetoric.
His latest move came after several Republican Party leaders, including his Vice President Mike Pence, criticized Trump’s role in ‘instigating’ the deadly riots at the US Capitol on January 6, which left at least five dead — including a police officer.
On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also said rioters who attacked the Capitol were “fed lies” and “provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence” in an attempt “to stop and overturn the certification by Congress of Democrat Joe Biden’s November 3 election victory.”
Despite the deepening divide between him and the establishment Republican leaders and party managers, Trump has managed to retain a significant chunk of Republican voters, especially those who became activists with his 2016 presidential campaign.
With the US political system dominated by Republicans and Democrats, however, creating another major political outfit would be a daunting task for the increasingly isolated Trump, who has faced an unprecedented two impeachments.
If Trump launches a new party, it would only cut into the Republican voter base, and split the Grand Old Party (GOP), as some leaders could jump the ship to join his outfit.
Last week, a survey found 42 percent of Republicans would still support Trump if he ran again for the presidency in 2024. This indicated a dwindled support for him within the GOP where he commanded 55 percent support in November 2020.
Many Republican senators, who opposed him, fear the Trumpites could defeat them in the 2022 re-elections to the Senate. That is why they may join hands with the Democrats to impeach and disqualify Trump from contesting in the 2024 presidential election.
But Trump is sure to hit headlines even after leaving the White House!