LAS VEGAS — Open defiance of Donald Trump, a surefire form of political suicide for Republican politicians for much of the last six years, has suddenly become a reliable applause line.
At a Republican Jewish Coalition meeting here, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu implored Republicans to stop nominating “crazy, unelectable candidates” this weekend here at a showcase of possible presidential contenders. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan called the 2022 midterm the third election that Republicans lost under Donald Trump — “three strikes and you’re out.” Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie compared politicians’ fear of Trump to their fear of being branded a communist in the 1960s amid “litmus tests based on lies.”
Others were less directly critical but no less audacious in suggesting their ambitions to challenge Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination. Former members of Trump’s administration positioned themselves as heirs to his agenda, with one of them — former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley — declaring serious interest in a 2024 bid despite once ruling out a clash with Trump. And Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis got a rock star’s reception as he touted his landslide reelection and took up the issues that fire up Trump’s base while never mentioning the former president.
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