Former U.S. President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 28, 2022 in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins | Getty Images)
For six long years now Americans have been assailed by non-stop lies from Donald J. Trump, the twice-impeached former president who launched an attempted coup against Congress and relentlessly — albeit falsely — accused the election system of being rigged.
But the midterms didn’t turn out to be the “red wave” he predicted.
In fact, just like the last presidential election, he lost big again. As the backlash from what Liz Cheney calls “normal Republicans” mounts, it may just mark the end of the road for Trump’s self-centered political ambitions.
To be sure, many of those same “normal” Republicans have been nervous from the start of the election season as Trump inserted himself into campaigns and lauded his hand-picked “MAGA” candidates willing to endorse his Big Lie about the “stolen” 2020 election.
They knew the statistics definitely did not put Trump — or his influence — in a good light. And they were right.
As exit polls showed, Trump was viewed favorably by just 39% of voters and carried a whopping 58% unfavorable rating. Only 16% of those polled said they cast their vote to show support for Trump.
As it turned out, they were right about that, too. The elections came off as usual with minimal problems — well, other than the predicted failure of many Trump-endorsed candidates who were simply rejected by voters grown tired of their radical and anti-democracy ravings.
George Ochenski is a longtime Helena resident, an environmental activist and Montana’s longest running columnist. This column was written before Trump announced he’ll run again for President in 2024.
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George Ochenski