Here's What You Should Know About Donald Trump's Political Party Rumors
Former President Donald Trump might have plans to start a new political party, according to The Wall Street Journal. Trump has reportedly discussed the venture with his associates, with sources close to him saying he'd like to name the new party the Patriot Party, the newspaper reported.
Trump, who won his presidency as a Republican, has a rich history of being at odds with the members of his own party. In January, many Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), blamed Trump for the attack on the U.S. Capitol during a speech on the Senate floor, according to AP News.
"The mob was fed lies," McConnell said. "They were provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like."
While president, Trump demanded loyalty from his fellow Republicans, earning the support of former rivals Senators Lindsey Graham (R., SC) and Ted Cruz (R., Texas). As competitors for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, Cruz once called Trump a "sniveling coward" only to defend Trump throughout his presidency, according to CNN.
After the riot at the Capitol on January 6, Cruz told ABC13 Houston, "The president's language and rhetoric often goes too far."
The Patriot Party is possible
Forty-three percent of voters in the U.S. gave Trump a favorable rating while 87 percent of Republicans polled by NBC News still approve of Trump after the Capitol riot. The same poll found that 35 percent of voters believe President Joe Biden unfairly won the election.
In his farewell speech as president, Trump said (via Fox 2), "I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning. There's never been anything like it." This could imply he has plans yet to be disclosed, although nothing has been confirmed by the White House or Trump's representatives.
Third parties have a history of failing in America, largely due to the Electoral College, according to Forbes. Candidates must have 270 votes in the Electoral College to become president, but third parties are limited by ballot access laws, voter support, and funding.
However, Theodore Roosevelt formed the Progressive Party in 1912 after losing the Republican presidential nomination to William Howard Taft, according to History. Roosevelt earned 27.4 percent of the popular vote and carried six states. Like Trump, Roosevelt served as president of the United States from 1901 to 1909 but decided to run again as a progressive in 1912.