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Are the conscientious Republicans revolting against Trump?It’s October 13, 2020, and yet another prominent Republican comes out against Trump. WE ARE 21 DAYS TO ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2020.Greg Schott, a lifelong Republican disgusted by President Donald Trump, decided it was time to speak out in a meaningful way. Schott, who sold his business software company to Salesforce in 2018 for a reported $6.5 billion, decided to spend $1 million of his own money to start a new group, Reclaim Our Party, a super PAC targeting right-leaning independents and soft Republicans and telling them it was OK to vote against Trump. [1]In addition, there’s the Bravery Project, led by Joe Walsh, a former Republican congressman from Illinois. [2] And, Stand Up Republic, which is profiled below, recently introduced a spinoff, Christians Against Trumpism & Political Extremism. [3]and another another anti-Trump group he started called Checks and Balances. [4]The stated goal of all of these groups is to give permission to everyday conservatives and Republicans, that it is okay to vote for VP Joe Biden.It’s October 10, 2020. We are 24 days out from the election. Retired four-star Air Force Gen. Chuck Boyd, a highly decorated military man, and Republican who served as strategy consultant to Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich. [5]just issued a video endorsement for VP Joe Biden for President. [6]In part, General Boyd says:"As I watched him over the years, my unease with his presidency has increased. It increased to the point that I believe that our democracy will be in shatters by the time he has served two terms," Boyd says. "While I am reticent about getting involved in presidential politics by any military men, in this case, keeping out of the political process is something I don't feel like I can do."I think the point at which he began telling the American people that the election process itself was fraudulent, that mail-in balloting was a disaster, was terrible. I thought if our citizens lose faith in how they go about electing their leaders, then democracy itself is at risk, at deep risk. That's the point at which I said I've got to get involved in this in some way.That's one of the reasons I've made the commitment to support and endorse Joe Biden for president. [7]It’s Oct 2, 2020. We are 31 days ahead of the election. The Republican Voters Against Trump billboards just went up in North Carolina. It’s hard to understate the unprecedented number of well known Republicans and Conservatives who have endorsed VP Joe Biden for President. In this answer alone, there are about 1,000 listed. Every day, more Republican’s for Biden come out to endorse VP Joe Biden, so I am just updating by date now.We are now 34 days ahead of the 2020 election. It is 9/30/20.This quote from Evan McMullin from Stand Up Republic, takes the cake:When Mindy Finn and I founded Stand Up Republic three years ago, we chose as our three core principles liberty, equality, and truth. Last night illustrated why. In less than two hours, Donald Trump threatened each one. He openly admitted that he is willing to see our votes thrown away to ensure his re-election. That's not liberty. He refused to condemn white supremacists, instead telling violent extremist groups to "stand by." That's not equality. And for much of the evening, he spewed lies and wouldn't let Joe Biden respond, because Trump's political existence depends on deception. That's not truth. The debate, if it can be called that, marked a new low in American politics. There is no question that Trump is a dangerous protofascist. The question is whether we'll unite to defeat him or let our lesser differences stand in the way. It's time for a change, America. I still believe that we're better than this. We must be. —Evan McMullinFormer Montana governor and Republican National Committee chair, Marc Racicot, said he will vote for Democrat Joe Biden in the November election, citing character flaws in President Donald Trump.“I regret that I will cause consternation, perhaps, in some corners, but even as a Republican, I will not be supporting Donald Trump for president, and I will not be voting for him,” Racicot said, adding that he still has policy disagreements with Biden.He added: “But at the end, the content of a man's character or a woman's character to serve in that capacity is more important than any other issue that I have to consider as a matter of conscience.” [8]On Sept 27th, former PA Republican Governor Tom Ridge endorsed Joe Biden. [9]I will cast my vote for Joe Biden on Nov. 3. It will be my first vote for a Democratic candidate for president of the United States. But it is not the first time I have said “no” to Donald Trump. I urge my fellow Pennsylvanians to join me.Donald Trump has proven over these last four years he is incapable of such leadership. It is not within him. He lacks the empathy, integrity, intellect, and maturity to lead. He sows division along political, racial, and religious lines. And he routinely dismisses the opinions of experts who know far more about the subject at hand than he does — intelligence, military, and public health. Our country has paid dearly in lives lost, social unrest, economic hardship, and our standing in the world.We knew it was coming…. On Sept 24th, Cindy McCain, wife of the last Senator John McCain endorsed VP Joe Biden for president. We know that Trump Supporters will not be persuaded by this endorsement. However, there are some longtime conservatives, particularly in Arizona, a battleground state, that may be influenced by Cindy McCain’s endorsement.My husband John lived by a code: country first. We are Republicans, yes, but Americans foremost. There's only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation, and that is @JoeBiden.— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) September 22, 2020 [10]Cindy McCain said although she and Joe Biden didn’t always agree on issues, ‘he is a good and honest man. He will lead us with dignity.’[11]You can listen to her video endorsement here: Cindy McCain endorses Joe Biden: I want to feel like my president cares about me - CNN VideoIt’s Sept 22nd, and we are 42 days out from the election.Here is the latest Republican for Biden news.Republicans For A New President: A very prominent Republican in NC wrote a powerful OpEd. Robert F. Orr is a retired N.C. Supreme Court justice and N.C. chair of Republicans For A New President. The Richmond Observer - OPINION: 'The socialists are coming! The socialists are coming!'A new group called: Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform (REPAIR) has formed. Republican Anti-Trump Group Claims Support from "Current Top U.S. Government Official"In a press release to mark its official launch on Thursday, the Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform (REPAIR) listed 26 people as advisers, including conservative former officials from the Reagan, both Bush, and Trump administrations. New anti-Trump GOP group claims backing of "top" government officialThe Repair 45 website is found at: Republican Political Alliance for Integrity & Reform. This is their press release:IT’S OFFICIAL. The Alliance has launched, and we are ready to shape the post-Trump GOP and to #REPAIR our country. pic.twitter.com/lk3KRDjWPu— #REPAIR (@RepairRepublic) September 17, 2020It's Sept 20th, and so many more Republicans have come out in support of VP Biden. They are all putting Country Over Party. Here's Olivia Troye, who just resigned from the Coronavirus taskforce.🚨🚨🚨NEW from @RVAT2020.Olivia Troye, VP Pence's lead staffer on the COVID task force, resigned two months ago. Now she speaks out:"No matter how hard you worked...the president was going to do something detrimental to keeping Americans safe. It was awful. It was terrifying." pic.twitter.com/nkz2WncE9i— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) September 17, 2020Another largely Republican faith group recently established is “Believers For Biden".Catholics for Biden is the official campaign outreach of the Biden-Harris campaign, one of the many groups under the umbrella operation of "Believers for Biden," which was launched in July and is led by Josh Dickson, an evangelical and former Republican.It’s September 4th, and a new group has come out called “Republicans and Independents for Biden”. This group has been formed by former Republican governors and includes Christine Todd Whitman, a former Republican governor of New Jersey; Rick Snyder, a two-term GOP governor of Michigan, who just left in 2019, and Bill Weld, former governor of Massachusetts. Nearly 100 Republican and independent leaders will endorse Democrat Joe Biden. As I get the detailed list of endorsements, I will update. [12]It's now September 2nd. The daily, updates conscientious Republican's endorsing VP Joe Biden is becoming fast and furious. So I will just start a new list at the top of this already lengthy answer.Staunchly pro-life Republican columnist Mona Charen just gave permission for all Republican women to support Biden for President.There is putrefaction where the Republican Party's essence should be, and appointing pro-life judges cannot mask the stench. So, this conservative is voting for the Democrats. Will the GOP reform? I hope so. But my priority isn't trying to heal the Republican Party. It's trying to heal the country. [13]Mona Charen is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, which describes itself as "dedicated to applying the Judeo-Christian moral tradition to critical issues of public policy.Margaret Hoover, the conservative political commentator and great-granddaughter of former Republican President Herbert Hoover, said she will not vote for President Trump in November and will "quite likely" cast her ballot for Joe Biden instead. [14]On August 24th, Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele announced Monday that he is becoming a senior advisor to the Lincoln Project, a PAC comprised of anti-Trump Republicans. [15]Trump had transformed the GOP "into a cult of personality" and that the president "traffics in conspiracies, fear, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and believes that he can rewrite the Constitution in his own image." [16]The Democratic National Convention has arrived. It's August 17, 2020. 4 Republican's will be speaking on behalf of Biden tonight.[17]The theme is:"We The People Putting Country Over Party."Christine Todd WhitmanJohn Kasich [18]Meg WhitmanChristine MolinariCindy McCain, wife of the late Senator John McCain, narrated a video on the close friendship between her husband and Joe Biden, on the 2nd night of the DNC. [19] VP Joe Biden gave a eulogy at Senator McCain's funeral. [20]During the convention, Former Republican Rep. Charlie Dent (Pa.) announced he is endorsing Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. [21]He called President Trump;"a threat to the rule of law and functional democracy.""Biden is fundamentally a decent and honorable man who respects the American tradition, supports the rule of law, embraces America's friends and allies, and will restore some semblance of normalcy to the functioning of government.”Along with former US Rep. Charlie Dent;More than 70 former national security officials from the last several Republican administrations and other GOP officials endorsed Joe Biden for president on Thursday. [22]Defending Democracy Together [23] is the organization that put out the statement.Under the banner of Defending Democracy Together, a new group is called Former Republican National Security Officials for Biden, has formed. [24] 130 former national security officials who served during the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and/or Donald Trump, or as Republican Members of Congress, have signed an open letter endorsing VP Joe Biden.The substantive points are:​Donald Trump has gravely damaged America’s role as a world leader.​Donald Trump has shown that he is unfit to lead during a national crisis.Donald Trump has solicited foreign influence and undermined confidence in our presidential elections.Donald Trump has aligned himself with dictators and failed to stand up for American values.Donald Trump has disparaged our armed forces, intelligence agencies, and diplomats.Donald Trump has undermined the rule of law.These are the signatories:Adm. Steve Abbot Fmr Dep Homeland Security AdvisorKenneth Adelman Fmr Director, Arms Control and Disarmament AgencyAmb. Peter Allgeier Fmr Deputy US Trade RepresentativeMary Catherine Andrews Fmr Special Asst to the PresidentRichard Armitage Fmr Deputy Secretary of StateChristopher Barton Fmr Director, NSC StaffNancy Bearg Fmr Senior Director, NSC StaffJohn Bellinger Fmr Legal Adviser, Dept of StateAdm. Kenneth Bernard Fmr Special Asst to the PresidentMark Bitterman Fmr Special Asst to the Secretary of DefenseAmb. Robert Blackwill Fmr Deputy National Security AdvisorChristian Bonat Fmr Dep General Counsel, Defense DeptAmb. Richard Boucher Fmr Asst Secretary of StateAmb. Charles Bowers Fmr US AmbassadorBertram Braun Fmr Director, NSC StaffAmb. Peter Bridges Fmr US AmbassadorDouglas Brook Fmr Asst Secretary of the ArmyLinton Brooks Fmr Under Secretary of EnergyGreg Brower Fmr Asst Director of the FBIKara Bue Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of StateAmb. Richard Burt Fmr US Ambassador to GermanySally Canfield Fmr Dep Chief of Staff, Dept of Homeland SecurityVictor Cha Fmr Director, NSC StaffAmb. Jack Chow Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of StateThomas Christensen Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of StateEliot Cohen Fmr Counselor of the Dept of StateJoseph Collins Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of DefenseHeather Conley Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of StateBret Coulson Fmr Director, NSC StaffChester Crocker Fmr Asst Secretary of StatePatrick Cronin Fmr Asst Administrator, USAIDAmb. Sada Cumber Fmr US Special Envoy to the OIC​Mike Donley Fmr Secretary of the Air ForceRaymond DuBois Fmr Acting Under Secretary of the ArmyLewis Dunn Fmr Asst Director, Arms Control and Disarmament AgencyAmb. Eric Edelman Fmr Under Secretary of DefenseGary Edson Fmr Deputy National Security AdvisorRichard Falkenrath Fmr Dep Asst to the PresidentAmb. Julie Finley Fmr US AmbassadorCarl Ford Fmr Asst Secretary of StateAaron Friedberg Fmr Dep Asst to the Vice PresidentWilliam Gaches Fmr Director of Counterterrorism, NSAJanice Gardner Fmr Asst Secretary of the TreasuryJohn Gardner Fmr Special Asst to the PresidentAmb. James Glassman Fmr Under Secretary of StateAmb. Jon Glassman Fmr Dep National Security Advisor to the Vice PresidentDavid Gordon Fmr Director, State Dept, Policy PlanningColleen Graffy Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of StateMichael Green Fmr Senior Director, NSC StaffSen. Chuck Hagel Fmr Secretary of Defense and US SenatorChristopher Hankin Fmr Dep Asst Secretry of StateMark Harvey Fmr Special Asst to the PresidentGen. Michael Hayden Fmr Director of the CIA and the NSAAmb. Carla Hills Fmr US Trade RepresentativeSeth Hurwitz Fmr Counsel, President's Intelligence Oversight BoardAsh Jain Fmr Member, State Dept Policy PlanningLes Janka Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of DefenseNeil Joeck Fmr Director, NSC StaffAmb. Richard Kauzlarich Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of StateJames Kelly Fmr Asst Secretary of StateDonald Kerr Fmr Princ Dep Director of National IntelligenceRep. Jim Kolbe Fmr Member of CongressDavid Kramer Fmr Asst Secretary of StateStephen Krasner Fmr Director, State Dept Policy PlanningKen Krieg Fmr Under Secretary of DefenseJames Kunder Fmr Deputy Administrator, USAIDAmb. Frank Lavin Fmr Under Secretary of CommerceRep. Jim Leach Fmr Member of CongressBruce Lemkin Fmr Dep Under Secretary of the Air ForceMichael Leiter Fmr Director, National Counterterrorism CtrPeter Lichtenbaum Fmr Asst Secretary of CommerceAmb. Winston Lord Fmr US AmbassadorJames Loy Fmr Dep Secretary of Homeland SecurityPeter Madigan Fmr Dep Asst Secretary StateAmb. Steven Mann Fmr Prin Dep Asst Secretary of StateCol. John McDonald Fmr Dep Under Secretary of the ArmyBryan McGrath Former US Navy OfficerAmb. Michael McKinley Fmr US AmbassadorChristopher Mellon Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of DefenseDavid Merkel Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of StateJohn Mitnick Fmr General Counsel, Department of Homeland SecurityAllen Moore Fmr Under Secretary of CommerceAlberto Mora Fmr Gen Counsel, Dept of the NavyHolly Morrow Fmr Director, NSC StaffKenneth Mortensen Fmr Assoc Dep Attorney GeneralVirginia Mulberger Fmr Special Asst to the PresidentAlden Munson Fmr Dep Director of National IntelligenceAmb. John Negroponte Fmr Director of National Intelligence, and Fmr Deputy Secretary of StateElizabeth Neumann Fmr Asst Secretary of Homeland SecuritySean O’Keefe Fmr Secretary of the Navy and NASA AdministratorDouglas Paal Fmr Senior Director, NSC StaffLarry Pfeiffer Fmr Chief of Staff, CIAWilliam Piekney Fmr Chief of Station, CIADaniel Price Fmr Dep National Security AdvisorSen. Larry Pressler Fmr US SenatorClyde Prestowitz Fmr Counselor to the Secretary of CommerceVictor Reis Fmr Director, Defense Adv Research Projects AgencyPaul Rosenzweig Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of Homeland SecurityNicholas Rostow Fmr NSC Legal AdviserKori Schake Fmr Prin Dep Director, State Dept Policy PlanningWayne Schroeder Fmr Dep Under Secretary of DefenseAmb. Gregory Schulte Fmr Senior Director, NSC StaffRobert Shanks Fmr Dep Asst Attorney GeneralAmb. Thomas Shannon Fmr Under Secretary of StateRep. Christopher Shays Fmr Member of CongressJohn Simon Fmr Senior Director, NSC StaffStephen Slick Fmr Senior Director, NSC StaffAmb. Mark Storella Fmr US AmbassadorTimothy Stratford Fmr Asst US Trade RepresentativeAmb. William Taft Fmr Deputy Secretary of DefenseShirin Tahir-Kheli Fmr Special Asst to the PresidentMiles Taylor Fmr Chief of Staff, Dept of Homeland SecurityWilliam Tobey Fmr Dep Administrator, Nat Nuclear Security AdminJack Tomarchio Fmr Princ Dep Under Secretary of Homeland SecurityOlivia Troye Fmr Special Advisor to the Vice PresidentAmb. Robert Tuttle Fmr US Ambassador to the United KingdomJohn Veroneau Fmr Dep US Trade RepresentativeMichael Vickers Fmr Under Secretary of DefenseKen Wainstein Fmr Homeland Security AdvisorDavid Waller Fmr Asst Secretary of EnergyThomas Ward Fmr Director of Threats, Ballistic Missile Defense OrganizationSen. John Warner Fmr US SenatorMatthew Waxman Fmr Prin Dep Director, State Dept Policy PlanningWilliam Webster Fmr Director of the CIA and FBIWendell Willkie II Fmr General Counsel, Dept of CommerceJohn Woodworth Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of DefenseJohn Wolf Fmr Asst Secretary of StateDov Zakheim Fmr Under Secretary of DefensePhilip Zelikow Fmr Counselor of the Dept of State“I'm sorry, Mr. President, you were hired to handle America's worst day and you've absolutely failed. We are less safe today because of his leadership. We will continue to be less safe as long as he is in control. And this year I'll be voting for Joe Biden. [25]Former Trump Assistant Director of Homeland Security Elizabeth Neumann accused Trump of ignoring the threat of domestic terrorism and early pandemic warnings, claiming he “gave permission” to white supremacists. [26]Sean O’KeefeFmr Secretary of the Navy and NASA AdministratorDaniel PriceFmr Dep National Security AdvisorPaul RosenzweigFmr Dep Asst Secretary of Homeland SecurityNicholas RostowFmr NSC Legal AdviserKori SchakeFmr Prin Depup Director, State Dept Policy PlanningWayne SchroederFmr Dep Under Secretary of DefenseRobert ShanksFmr Dep Asst Attorney GeneralRep. Christopher ShaysFmr Member of CongressJohn SimonFmr Senior Director, NSC StaffStephen SlickFmr Senior Director, NSC StaffAmb. William TaftFmr Deputy Secretary of DefenseShirin Tahir-KheliFmr Special Asst to the PresidentMiles TaylorFmr Chief of Staff, Dept of Homeland SecurityWilliam TobeyFmr Dep Administrator, Nat Nuclear Security Admin logAmb. Robert TuttleFmr US Ambassador to the United KingdomJohn VeroneauFmr Dep US Trade RepresentativeMichael VickersFmr Under Secretary of DefenseKen WainsteinFmr Homeland Security AdvisorSen. John WarnerFmr US SenatorMatthew WaxmanFmr Prin Dep Director, State Dept Policy PlanningWilliam WebsterFmr Director of the CIA and FBIDov ZakheimFmr Under Secretary of DefensePhilip ZelikowFmr Counselor of the Dept of StateToday, the first day of the Republican National Convention, two dozen former Republican members of Congress came out to endorse VP Joe Biden. [27]The former Representatives are:Steve Bartlett of Texas,Bill Clinger of Pennsylvania,Tom Coleman of Missouri,Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania,Charles Djou of Hawaii, Mickey Edwards of Oklahoma,Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland,Jim Greenwood of Pennsylvania,Bob Inglis of South Carolina,Jim Kolbe of Arizona,Steve Kuykendall of California,Ray LaHood of Illinois (who served as Transportation secretary in the Obama administration),Jim Leach of Iowa,Connie Morella of Maryland,Mike Parker of Mississippi,Jack Quinn of New York,Claudine Schneider of Rhode Island,Chris Shays of Connecticut,Peter Smith of Vermont,Alan Steelman of Texas,Bill Whitehurst of Virginia,Dick Zimmer of New Jersey, andJim Walsh of New York.It's Tuesday, August 25th, the 2nd day of the Republican National Convention, and the following Republicans have just endorsed VP Joe Biden. [28]Alan Charles Raul, who served as vice chair of the White House Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board under G Project eorge W. Bush and served in roles with George H.W. Bush as well as associate counsel to the president in the Reagan administration.Charles Fried, former U.S. solicitor general in the Reagan administration and an associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.Stuart Gerson, an assistant attorney general under George H. W. Bush.Peter Keisler, former U.S. acting attorney general under George W. Bush.Paul Rosenweig, who served in the Department of Homeland Security under George W. Bush.Robert Shanks, former U.S. deputy assistant attorney general in the Reagan administrationJ.W. Verret, who served on Trump’s presidential transition staffToday, August 25th, 2020, I learned of a new Never Trump Group, that is a women's offshoot of The Lincoln Project, a well known Never Trump group that has endorsed VP Joe Biden. [29]It's called The Lincoln Women.The Lincoln Women includes a very extensive list of well known Republican women who have endorsed VP Joe Biden."It is essential that these women turn out and vote for Joe Biden, as opposed to just staying home because they feel like they can't vote for Donald Trump," Jennifer Horn, Co-Founder said. [30]The Lincoln Women are:Jennifer Horn - Co-Founder of the Lincoln Project, Chairman of the NH Republican Party 2013-2017, Republican Nominee in NH-2, 2008.Susan Del Percio - Republican Strategist and Political Analyst.Jenny Willis Beech - Bush 2000 Campaign and Administration Alumna, Political Advisor.Cathy Blaney - CEO of CBlaney Group, Former fundraiser for Governor George E. Pataki and President George W. Bush.Jane Calderwood - Former Chief of Staff, U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe.Sally Canfield - Former Deputy Chief of Staff to Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Former senior director at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Domestic Policy Advisor for the 2000 Bush Campaign.Jerushah Duford - Evangelical Author, Speaker, and Advocate.Beth Fukumoto - Former Hawaii Republican House Leader (2014-2017), Democratic State Representative (2017-2018), Democratic Candidate for US House (2018).Mollie Fullington - Founder of Mulberry Street Strategies, Former Press Secretary for New York Governor George E. Pataki and U.S. Representative Rick Lazio.Jennifer Waisath Harris - Public Affairs Strategist, Former Communications Director, Spokesperson and Political Director for GOP Elected and Appointed Officials.Ariel Hill-Davis – Founder and the Policy Director for Republican Women for Progress (RWFP). A lifelong moderate Republican, Miss Hill-Davis brings over a decade of experience in public policy to her work with RWFP and having spent most of her career focused on heavy industry like manufacturing and mining.Kodiak Hill-Davis – Founder and Political Director of Republican Women for Progress (RWFP). Hill-Davis started her career working for Rep Nancy Johnson (R-CT) and has spent the last decade advocating for transportation, infrastructure, and now, market based solutions for climate change.Stephanie McGann Jantzen - Crisis Communications, Republican Strategist, Policy and political consultant.Jennifer Lim - Co-Founder & Executive Director of Republican Women for Progress.Meghan Milloy - Co-Founder & Executive Director of Republican Women for Progress.Tara Setmayer - CNN Political Commentator, Contributor to ABC News, and Former GOP Communications Director on Capitol Hill.Rina Shah - Political Adviser, Commentator, & Founder of Republican Women for Biden.It's Thursday, August 27th, the last day of the Republican National Convention, and another group of Never Trump Republicans have come out an endorsed VP Joe Biden for President.More than 100 former staff members from Sen. John McCain’s campaigns and congressional offices announced Thursday that they are endorsing Joe Biden for president. [31]“Given the incumbent president’s lack of competent leadership, his efforts to aggravate rather than bridge divisions among Americans, and his failure to uphold American values, we believe the election of former Vice President Biden is clearly in the national interest.”The list of the 100 former McCain staffers is found here. [32] They call themselves McCain Alumni For Biden.I highlight the more established Never Trump groups below, but it's important to take a moment to reflect on an incredibly powerful statement released today by Billy Graham's granddaughter, [33]Jerushah Duford, who is a member of The Lincoln Women.In part, she wrote:On August 28th, Evan McMullin, in his speech at the Convention on Founding Principles, a Republican alternative to the RNC, endorsed VP Joe Biden.In addition, there are numerous organizations actively working to reach moderate and disaffected Republican voters by donating money, producing ads, conducting focus groups, and actively recruiting voters and activists.On September 1st, a new group called Veteran and Military Community Coalition is working with The Lincoln Project to get Biden elected. [34]The coalition members are:Former Navy Secretary John Dalton;retired Army Lt. Col. Bob Andrews;Retired Army Maj, General Donna Barbisch;Former Navy Lt. Daniel Barkhuff;retired Army Col. Joseph Collins; former Navy Lt. Chris David;Gold Star Mother and retired psychiatric-mental health nurse Judith Gentz;Purple Heart recipient Ernesto Hernandez;retired Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling;former Army Lt. Andre Hollis;wounded veterans advocate Blair Hughes;retired Army Col. Mike Jason;retired Marine Col. Scott Jensen;retired Army Lt. Col. John Lock;U.S. Cavalry Officer Brennan Mullaney;ex-airborne infantryman Matt Pelak;National Guard mother Jessica Piper;retired Army 1st Sgt. Curtez Riggs;military and veteran advocate Colleen Saffron;former Navy Lt. Glenn Schatz;former Navy Electronics Technician Daniel Tapia;former Army Capt. Matt ZellerThe other groups that I know of are listed below.43 Alumni, 43 Alumni Endorsing Joe Biden - 43 Alumni for Biden connected to the George W. Bush Administration. [35]COUNTRY OVER PARTY’ Despite policy differences with Biden, “hundreds” of former Bush officials believe the Democrat has the integrity to meet America’s challenges, the 43 Alumni members said. [36]The group of at least 300 former officials, aides and Cabinet secretaries formed 43 Alumni for Biden to block President Donald Trump from winning a second term, arguing on its website that "democracy is at stake" and there have been "far too many days filled with chaos emanating from the highest levels of government.[37] [38] Our mission is clear, to elect Joe Biden as the next President of the United States. Through our advocacy, 43 Alumni for Biden seeks to unite and mobilize a community of historically Republican voters who are dismayed and disappointed by the damage done to our nation by Donald Trump’s presidency. Our efforts will focus on engaging voters with shared concerns about the future of our country and compelling them to make the right choice by voting for Joe Biden on Election Day, November 3rd, 2020.The Lincoln Project [39] 8 GOP operatives including George Conway & Rick Wilson. They are affiliated with Republicans For The Rule Of Law. George Conway just stepped away from his role at The Lincoln Project in order to support his four children, who have suffered from extreme disagreements between George Conway and his wife, Kellyanne Conway, who just resigned her position as Senior Adviser to President Trump. George Conway Tweeted that he still remains passionate about his Never Trump movement. [40] His daughter, Claudia, Tweeted that she is devastated that her mother still plans to speak at the RNC. [41][42]Republican Voters Against Trump made up of everyday conservative and Republican voters who are now voting for Biden & connected to Defending Democracy Together[43] Here is part of one of their statements in response to the differences between VP Biden & President Trump in response to how they have both handled the George George Floyd murder. “If I had to boil it all down, the main difference, for me, as an anti-Trump Republican, is that thbioe America Joe Biden describes is a place I'd like to live. Trump's ... not so much.” Sarah Longwell.[44]Republicans For A New President [45] a group dedicated to restoring honor and dignity to the White House & affiliated with Stand Up Republic, made up of [46] conservatives Tara Setmayer & Evan McMullin, who support vote by mail, electoral reform, are against racial injustice, among other democratic party issues and appear to be forming a new and different Republican Party.Right Side PAC: prominent Republicans — including former White House staffer Anthony Scaramucci. The “Right Side PAC,” composed of former officials from the Trump and George W. Bush administrations, will initially focus on Republicans in the battleground states of Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. [47] They will use digital, mail and telephone to reach the voters and encourage absentee voting. Matt Borges, a former chair of the Ohio Republican Party and an alum of the George W. Bush administration, and founder of the group said the group will work to turn out "that group of Republicans who feels that Donald Trump is an existential threat to the country and this party. [48]Right Side PAC “will target disillusioned former Trump voters in battleground states who might be open to voting for Biden this time around—something the group’s founder, former Ohio Republican Party chairman Matt Borges, calls “the correction option.[14]“Stand Up Republic [49] This organization is run by Evan McMullin, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operations officer who ran as an independent during the 2016 United States presidential election. [50] The group focuses on "defense of democratic (small 'd') norms, constitutionalism and civic involvement." [6] Speaking on so-called "alternative facts" McMullin said: "Undermining truth is a typical authoritarian tactic. It is incredibly dangerous.Operation Grant: Republicans against Trump: 'We will not make the same mistake this November' Ohio Republicans are launching Operation Grant to mobilize GOP voters in the Buckeye State against our current president. This Group is run by Phil Heimlich, a former assistant prosecutor and Republican City Council member and Hamilton County commissioner; Chris Gagin, former Belmont County GOP chairman, who resigned in disgust after Trump’s Helsinki debacle; Roger Synenberg, former chairman of the Republican Party and Board of Elections in Cleveland, and inductee into the Cuyahoga County Republican Hall of Fame; Chris Gibbs, former Republican chairman and Board of Elections president in Shelby County; Michael Anne Johnson, former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Ohio.After the Civil War, President Grant rose to the moment to unite a nation most divided. Ohioans who wish to preserve our republic will rise to the moment, too.North Carolina Republicans for Biden: part of a national effort officials say is aimed at engaging Republicans who are supporting Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president, instead of voting to re-elect President Donald Trump. Among the list of Republican politicians announcing their support of Biden are former N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice Robert “Bob” Orr, former state Representative Charles Jeter, Transylvania County Board of Commissioners Chair Mike Hawkins and Transylvania County Board of Commissioners Vice-Chair Page Lemel.[51]In addition, we are starting to see high-level military officers warning us that Trump is abusing his Executive Power.General James Mattis issued a statement today. [52] [53] In part, it states:Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children…We know that we are better than the abuse of executive authority that we witnessed in Lafayette Square. We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution.Retired Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, and former Joint Chiefs of Staff, made a statement as well:[54] Retired Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, accused President Trump Tuesday of disrespecting the right to protest and potentially politicizing the military."It sickened me yesterday to see security personnel — including members of the National Guard — forcibly and violently clear a path through Lafayette Square to accommodate the president's visit outside St. John's Church”In another statement by Navy Admiral Mike Mullin [55], he:spoke strongly against the notion of bringing in the military to quell violent protests in the U.S., warning that such a move could sink the public's trust in the armed forces to levels not seen in more than 50 years."The potential use of our military to fight our own people, to deploy in the streets and, to use a phrase that the Secretary of Defense used, to dominate in the battle space -- we have a military to fight our enemies, not our own people," Mullen said. "And our military should never be called to fight our own people as enemies of the state. And that, quite frankly, for me really tipped it over.Discussing the current political climate, Mullen recalled 1968 and the period following the assassinations of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, while the Vietnam War raged on and public opinion of the military was low."I see this reemerging, and from a war, quite frankly, where the United States military lost the respect and the trust of the American people," Mullen recalled. "We’ve regained that. And in very short order, should we get into conflict in our own streets, there’s a very significant chance we could lose that trust that has taken us 50-plus years to restore."General John Allen made a statement today.General Allen went on to state: [56]It wasn’t enough that peaceful protestors had just been deprived of their first-amendment rights – this photo-op sough to legitimise that abuse with a layer of religion.”Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Ret. Gen. Martin Dempsey condemned Trump's threat to use military force to suppress nationwide protests as "dangerous" and "very troubling.[57]The retired general said military involvement should be reserved for "conflict in external wars.""The idea that the military would be called in to dominate and to suppress what, for the most part, were peaceful protests — admittedly, where some had opportunistically turned them violent — and that the military would somehow come in and calm that situation was very dangerous to me," he said.Retired Retired four-star Gen. Richard Myers said:[58]As I understand it, that was a peaceful protest that was disturbed by force, and that's not right," he said. "That should not happen in America. And so I was sad. I mean, we should all shed tears over that, that particular act."James Miller, a former undersecretary of defense for policy, cited Secretary of Defense Mark Esper's participation in President Donald Trump's Monday night photo op in front of St. John's Church.[59]“Where will you draw the line, and when will you draw it?"The resignation comes as the nation braced for its eighth night of protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd. Here is part of the letter:When I joined the Board in early 2014, after leaving government service as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, I again swore an oath of office, one familiar to you, that includes the commitment to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States . . . and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same."You recited that same oath on July 23, 2019, when you were sworn in as Secretary of Defense. On Monday, June 1, 2020, I believe that you violated that oath. Law-abiding protesters just outside the White House were dispersed using tear gas and rubber bullets — not for the sake of safety, but to clear a path for a presidential photo op. You then accompanied President Trump in walking from the White House to St. John's Episcopal Church for that photo.President Trump's actions Monday night violated his oath to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed," as well as the First Amendment "right of the people peaceably to assemble." You may not have been able to stop President Trump from directing this appalling use of force, but you could have chosen to oppose it. Instead, you visibly supported it.Anyone who takes the oath of office must decide where he or she will draw the line: What are the things that they will refuse to do? Secretary Esper, you have served honorably for many years, in active and reserve military duty, as Secretary of the Army, and now as Secretary of Defense. You must have thought long and hard about where that line should be drawn. I must now ask: If last night's blatant violations do not cross the line for you, what will?Miller ended the letter by saying, "I wish you the best, in very difficult times. The sanctity of the U.S. Constitution, and the lives of Americans, may depend on your choices." [60]Former Chief of Staff to President Trump, John J. Kelly, also came out with his own statement today that he is in agreement with General Mattis. [61]“I agree with him,” Kelly said during a virtual panel discussion.“I think we need to look harder at who we elect,” said Kelly, who left the White House in January 2019. “I think we should look at people that are running for office and put them through the filter: What is their character like? What are their ethics.”Kelly said police should be responsible for ending violent protests. “These are civilian responsibilities,” Kelly said. “We should be very, very careful before we contemplate sending in active duty.”William Harry McRaven (born November 6, 1955), retired United States Navy four-star admiral stated:“In the military, there are three criteria for every decision we make,” McRaven said. “It has to be moral, legal, and ethical. [To be] Ethical you have to follow the rules, legally you have to follow the law, and to be moral you have to follow what you know to be right, and either way, this was just not right. You’re not going to use, whether it’s the military or the National Guard, to clear peaceful American citizens for the President of the United States to take a photo op. There is nothing morally right about that.[62]Admiral McCraven also stated:[63]“This fall, it’s time for new leadership in this country – Republican, Democrat or independent,” said William H McRaven, the retired Navy admiral who directed the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. “President Trump has shown he doesn’t have the qualities necessary to be a good commander in chief.McRaven, in an interview on the 76th anniversary of D-Day, noted that those wartime leaders inspired Americans with “their words actions and their humanity”.In contrast, he said, Mr Trump has failed his leadership test. “As we have struggled with the Covid pandemic and horrible acts of racism and injustice, this president has shown none of those qualities,” Mr McRaven said. “The country needs to move forward without him at the helm.”Colin Powell, retired 4 star general, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George Bush, just endorsed Joe Biden.Powell said in an interview on CNN's "State of The Union. “We have a Constitution. We have to follow that Constitution. And the president's drifted away from it.”General Powell went on to say: [64]"The Republican Party, the president thought they were immune, they can say anything they wanted," Powell said. "And even more troubling, the Congress would just sit there and not in any way resist what the president is doing.""The one word I have to use with respect to what he's been doing for the last several years is the word I would never have used before, never would have used with any of the four presidents I worked for: He lies," Powell added. "He lies about things, and he gets away with it because people will not hold him accountable.Retired U.S. Navy Adm. James Stavridis said Sunday:“protests over George Floyd's death aren't "a battlespace to be dominated," as President Trump suggested.The former NATO supreme allied commander told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he thinks there are "plenty of people" in law enforcement, including officers and the National Guard, who can police the demonstrations without the military getting involved."Their real role is to protect these peaceful demonstrators," he said. "This is not a battlespace to be dominated."There are sufficient forces to do that, and I think the military is very concerned about getting pulled into the maelstrom of politics in an election year in order to push protesters, as they were at Lafayette Square," he said. "That was wrong."The Modern Military Association of America, a nonprofit organization for the LGBTQ military and veteran community, released this statement.[65]"Donald Trump just crossed a very serious line that demands swift and forceful condemnation by every Member of Congress," said the group's interim executive director, Air Force veteran Jennifer Dane. "Promoting a letter that labels American citizens peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights as 'terrorists' is an egregious breach of his oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Now more than ever, it is absolutely crucial that Trump be held accountable for his reckless actions.”Former Army Secretary Eric Fanning endorsed VP Biden.The first openly gay Army secretary says he’s supporting Joe Biden for president, the latest endorsement from a former military leader who had criticized President Donald Trump over his handling of anti-racism demonstrations.Eric Fanning, who held a variety of Navy and Air Force civilian positions and was Army secretary from 2016 to 2017, on Wednesday cited Biden’s “empathy” and “integrity” in engaging with members of the military.Fanning is among 89 former senior defense officials who recently signed an op-ed to voice opposition to Trump’s threatened use of active-duty troops to quell protests over George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police..[66] Former Army secretary backs Biden, citing ‘moral leadership’Another, General Ricardo Sanchez, issued a statement as well. [67]"The overtly racist comments and discriminatory actions of our current President," Sanchez wrote, "have convinced me that this administration does not actually view racial diversity as a pillar of American strength, and that it is choosing to actively ignore many elements of our Constitution.Related criticisms come from:Gen. Tony Thomas, retired four-star Marine Gen. John Allen, retired three-star Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, retired four-star Gen. Michael Hayden, retired Maj. Gen. Steven Lepper, retired four-star Gen. Barry McCaffrey, White House chief of staff.The Washington Post published an op-ed critical of Trump over the weekend, co-authored by 78 former Defense Department officials, including four former Pentagon chiefs -- two Democrats and two Republicans. It coincided with a statement, calling on the president not to use the U.S. military for political ends, co-signed by more than 280 retired diplomats, generals, and senior national security officials.Among the 280 signatories were more than 20 retired generals.[68]Fanning is among 89 former senior defense officials who recently signed an op-ed to voice opposition to Trump’s threatened use of active-duty troops to quell protests over George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police.Here is a list of officials who have resigned under President Trump [69]. Many of them are voting for VP Biden. A well known Republican is Anthony Scaramucci.Miles Taylor, the former Department of Homeland Security chief of staff under President Trump, endorsed Joe Biden for president in a video funded by Republican Voters Against Trump. [70]Here's a list of prominent Republican party officials who voted against Trump in 2016. [71] Notably, past Governor of OH and Republican Party presidential candidate John Kasich is included on this list.John Kasich has officially endorsed VP Biden and gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention in August 2020. [72]Kasich’s speech is to highlight intraparty disaffection with Trump and create a permission structure for Republican voters to support Biden. [73]Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld (R), said he would vote for Joe Biden “in a heartbeat”.Weld said Trump’s strongest opponent is Biden because “he’s a lunch-pail Democrat. He’s a good guy. He’s a centrist, and Trump is not going to be able to play the socialism card against him.”Arnold Schwarzenegger is another former GOP Governor on the list, as are current GOP Governors Charlie Baker (R-MA), Larry Hogan (R-MA,), Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), and US Rep. Justin Amash, now an Independent.GOP Vermont Governor Phil Scott says that he won’t vote for Trump but will consider supporting Democratic Presidential Candidate VP Joe Biden. [74]Steven Calabresi, a prominent Republican, is founder of the Federalist Society, and formerly a major Trump Supporter, came out publicly on July 30, 2020, calling for Trump to be impeached for tweeting that the election should be delayed.[75]Calabresi declared himself "appalled" by the tweet, which he characterized as "seeking to postpone the November election.""Until recently, I had taken as political hyperbole the Democrats' assertion that President Trump is a fascist," the conservative legal scholar wrote. "But this latest tweet is fascistic and is itself grounds for the president's immediate impeachment again by the House of Representatives and his removal from office by the Senate."Carli Fiorina, Republican candidate in 2016, voted for Trump. She just endorsed VP Joe Biden.Former Hewlett-Packard (HP) CEO Carly Fiorina, who was an early GOP candidate in 2016, announced she would vote for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden in this year’s election. [76]“I am encouraged that Joe Biden is a person of humility and empathy and character. I think he’s demonstrated that through his life,” she added, noting that though there are “plenty of policy differences” between her and Biden, she believes he can “problem solve” and “find common ground on a bipartisan basis.”Some wealthy Republican donors, and lifelong Republicans have recently endorsed VP Joe Biden for president.Jimmy Tosh, who runs a multi-million dollar hog and grain farm in Tennessee, is a lifelong Republican. He is pro-gun, supports lower taxes and agrees with most of Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda.He is also spending his money to help defeat Trump in November’s election. “I agree with 80% of the things he does; I just cannot stand a liar,” Tosh, 70, said of Trump.[77]“I made the decision I will not support a Republican candidate in an election until Trump is gone,” he said.Other top individual donors to The Lincoln Project include: hedge fund billionaire Andy Redleaf, who sits on the board of visitors at the conservative Federalist Society.Redleaf, founder of Minnesota-based hedge fund Whitebox Advisors, said Biden will be the first Democratic presidential candidate he has voted for.Readleaf, who calls himself a “conservative libertarian,” has donated $35,000 to The Lincoln Project. He said he agreed with the group’s push to also target Republican senators who face tough re-election battles in November.Sidney Jansma Jr., an oil and gas executive from Michigan and a frequent donor to Republican candidates and causes.[78]Prominent Republican and billionaire, Mark Cuban, endorsed VP Joe Biden, while appearing as a guest on Sean Hannity's show on Fox. [79]"Do you believe that he has the strength, the stamina, the mental acuity, the alertness to be taking on what is the toughest job in the world, being the president of the United States?" Hannity asked. "Do you in your heart believe he does?”"One hundred percent," Cuban responded. "Absolutely."Other notable Republican figures who have endorsed VP Biden for president. [80]Robert Blackwill, U.S. Ambassador to India (2001–2003) (Republican)Richard Burt, U.S. Ambassador to Germany (1985–1989) (Republican)Frank Lavin, ambassador to Singapore (2001–2005) (Republican)Robert Tuttle, United States ambassador to the United Kingdom (2005–2009) (Republican)Philip Zelikow, Counselor of the United States Department of State (2005–2007) (Republican)Michael Donley, Secretary of the Air Force (2008–2013) (Republican)Raymond DuBois, acting Under Secretary of the Army (2005–2006) (Republican)Sean O'Keefe, Secretary of the Navy and NASA Administrator (Republican)William Howard Taft IV, Deputy Secretary of Defense (1984–1989) and the great-grandson of President William Howard Taft (Republican)Michael G. Vickers, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence 2011-2015 (Republican)Matthew Waxman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Detainee Affairs (2004–2005) (Republican)Dov Zakheim, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) (2001–2004) (Republican)Linton Brooks, Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (2003–2007) (Republican)Victor Cha, National Security Council's director of Asian affairs (2004–2007) (Republican)Gary Edson, Deputy National Security Advisor (2001–2004) (Republican)Richard Falkenrath, Deputy Homeland Security Advisor (2003–2004) (Republican)Aaron Friedberg, deputy assistant for National security (2003–2005)(Republican)James Glassman, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy (2008–2009) (Republican)Colleen Graffy, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy for Europe and Eurasia (2004–2009) (Republican)James Kelly, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2001–2005) (Republican)David Kramer, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (2008–2009) (Republican)Stephen Krasner, Director of Policy Planning (2005–2007) (Republican)James Loy, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (2003–2005) (Republican)Rosario Marin, Treasurer of the United States (2001–2003) (Republican)John Mitnick, General Counsel of the United States Department of Homeland Security (2018–2019) (Republican)Ken Wainstein, Homeland Security Advisor (2008–2009) (Republican)Jeff Flake, U.S. Senator from Arizona (2013–2019), U.S. Representative from AZ-06 (2003–2013) and AZ-01 (2001–2003) (Republican)John Warner, U.S. Senator from Virginia (1979–2009), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee (2003–2007), Chair of the Senate Rule Committee (1995–1999), United States Secretary of the Navy (1972–1974), Under Secretary of the Navy (1969–1972) (Republican)Jim Leach, U.S. Representative from IA-02 (2003–2007), Chair of the House Financial Services Committee (1995-2001) (Republican)Susan Molinari, U.S. Representative from NY-14 (1990–1997) (Republican)Chris Shays, U.S. Representative from CT-04 (1987-2009) (Republican)Other Public Figures/Celebrities:Gretchen Carlson, journalist and former television commentator.Claudia Conway, liberal activist, daughter of Kellyanne Conway and George ConwayGeorge Conway, attorney, co-founder of The Lincoln Project (Republican before 2018, now Independent)S. E. Cupp, television host and political commentator (Republican)Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark, former board chair of the Log Cabin Republicans (Republican)Cindy McCain, businesswoman, philanthropist, humanitarian and widow of United States Senator, Vietnam war veteran and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain (Republican)Piers Morgan, English broadcaster, journalist, writer, and television personalityAna Navarro, political commentator and Republican strategist (Republican)Jennifer Rubin, journalist, columnist for The Washington Post (Independent)Steve Schmidt, chief strategist for the John McCain 2008 presidential campaign, co-founder of The Lincoln Project (Republican before 2018, now Independent)Stuart Stevens, writer and senior political strategist for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign (Republican)Sully Sullenberger, former U.S. Air Force captain and commercial airline pilot during the water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 (former Republican)Charlie Sykes, conservative talk show radio host, founder of The Bulwark (Republican)John Weaver, political consultant, chief strategist for the John Kasich 2016 presidential campaign, co-founder of The Lincoln Project (Republican)George Will, journalist, columnist for The Washington Post (Republican before 2016, now Independent)Rick Wilson, political strategist, media consultant, author, co-founder of The Lincoln Project (Republican)Meg Whitman, CEO of Quibi, CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (2011–2018), CEO of eBay (1998–2008), 2010 Republican nominee for Governor of California (Republican)Meghan McCain, daughter of former Arizona Senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain, co-host of The View (Republican)Tara Setmayer, CNN Political Commentator, Contributor to ABC News and former GOP Communications Director (Republican)Amanda Carpenter, former campaign director for Ted Cruz.List of Republicans who oppose the 2020 Donald Trump presidential campaign. [81]Here is the Wikipedia on Republicans who opposed Trump: List of Republicans who oppose the 2020 Donald Trump presidential campaign - WikipediaFootnotes[1] The Lincoln Project, Reclaim Our Party, the Bravery Project and more: The crowded, competitive world of anti-Trump GOP groups[2] The Bravery Project[3] Home - Christians Against Trumpism[4] Statements Archives - Checks and Balances[5] Charles G. Boyd - Wikipedia[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqv7keP4o-Q[7] Retired General Backs Biden, Says A 2nd Trump Term Would Put Democracy 'At Risk'[8] Former Montana GOP governor Marc Racicot voting for Biden[9] I was a Republican governor of Pa. I'm voting for Joe Biden | Opinion[10] Cindy McCain, Widow Of Onetime GOP Nominee, Endorses Biden For President [11] Cindy McCain Formally Endorses Biden[12] Exclusive: Biden garners more Republican endorsements, this time from ex-governors[13] Mona Charen: Why this pro-life conservative is voting for Biden[14] Conservative commentator Margaret Hoover says she will 'quite likely' vote for Biden[15] Former RNC Chair Michael Steele Joins Pro-Biden Republican Group Lincoln Project[16] Former Republican Party chair says Trump trying to "hijack" election after endorsing Joe Biden[17] 4 Republicans to speak on opening night of Democratic National Convention[18] https://youtu.be/g_jmm2NLLeQ[19] https://youtu.be/2jpXXoEmH-8[20] Joe Biden Just Gave an Incredibly Powerful Speech at John McCain’s Memorial[21] Former GOP Rep. Charlie Dent endorses Biden[22] More than 70 former GOP national security officials endorse Biden for president[23] Former Republican National Security Officials for Biden - Defending Democracy Together[24] Former Republican National Security Officials for Biden - Defending Democracy Together[25] Former Trump official: ‘You were hired to handle America’s worst day and you’ve absolutely failed’[26] All The Republicans Who Have Endorsed Joe Biden For President[27] Jeff Flake joins over two-dozen former GOP members of Congress to launch ‘Republicans for Biden’[28] 'He's going to be unleashed': Republican DOJ appointees urge against Trump second term[29] We've Had Enough | The Lincoln Project[30] Anti-Trump PAC ‘The Lincoln Project’ Launching ‘Lincoln Women,’ Led By Prominent GOP Women[31] Hundreds of former aides to George W. Bush, John McCain endorse Biden for president[32] McCain Alums endorse Joe Biden for President[33] I'm Billy Graham's granddaughter. Evangelical support of Donald Trump spits on his legacy.[34] Lincoln Project Unveils Veteran Coalition Opposing Trump's Re-Election | The Well News | Pragmatic, Governance, Fiscally Responsible, News & Analysis[35] Bush administration alums form pro-Biden super PAC[36] Exclusive: Hundreds of George W. Bush administration officials to back Biden, group says[37] 'Democracy is at stake': Former Bush aides and staffers launch super PAC in support of Biden[38] About Us[39] Dedicated Americans Protecting Democracy | The Lincoln Project[40] Twitter[41] Twitter[42] CLAUDIA CONWAY on Twitter[43] Defending Democracy Together[44] The Republicans who'd prefer Joe Biden might swing the election[45] Republicans for a New President[46] Stand Up Republic – Home[47] GOP members create super PAC to boost Joe Biden ahead of election[48] Republican operatives launch new group supporting Biden[49] Stand Up Republic – Home[50] Evan McMullin - Wikipedia[51] Group of N.C. Republicans come out in support of Joe Biden[52] Trump's former defense secretary Mattis blasts president as a threat to American democracy[53] General James Mattis Statement[54] Ex-Joint Chiefs chair 'sickened' by action against DC protesters, says not 'appropriate' to call in military[55] Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair warns military use against protests could sink public trust to Vietnam-era level[56] The US military is facing a danger unlike any war – a president seeking to sow division and discord | Kim Sengupta[57] Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Condemns Trump's Threat To Use Military At Protests[58] Breaking News, Latest News and Videos[59] http://Where will you draw the line, and when will you draw it?"[60] https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/06/02/secretary-esper-you-violated-your-oath-aiding-trumps-photo-op-thats-why-im-resigning/?arc404=true[61] Trump’s Former Chief Kelly Sides With Mattis Criticism[62] Retired Navy Admiral William McRaven: "Nothing Morally Right" About Trump Bible Photo-Op[63] George W Bush and Mitt Romney among Republicans who say they won’t back Trump re-election[64] Colin Powell calls Trump a liar, says he skirts the Constitution, will vote Biden[65] Trump shares letter that calls peaceful protesters 'terrorists'[66] Former Army secretary backs Biden, citing ‘moral leadership’[67] Former commander of US ground forces in Iraq blasts Trump as 'racist'[68] Admiral from bin Laden raid: US 'needs to move forward without' Trump[69] List of Trump administration dismissals and resignations - Wikipedia[70] Trump's former Homeland Security chief of staff endorses Joe Biden[71] List of Republicans who opposed the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign - Wikipedia[72] https://youtu.be/g_jmm2NLLeQ[73] Why Is the Left Angry at Republicans Working to Elect Joe Biden?[74] GOP Vermont gov. says he won't vote for Trump but "would consider" supporting Biden[75] Citing Election Delay Tweet, Influential Trump Ally Now Demands His Re-Impeachment[76] Former GOP Candidate Carly Fiorina Throws Support Behind Biden[77] The wealthy Republicans who want to oust Trump in November's election[78] The wealthy Republicans who want to oust Trump in November's election[79] Mark Cuban explains why he backs Biden in November: 'Joe Biden actually wants to run a country'[80] List of Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign endorsements - Wikipedia[81] List of Republicans who oppose the 2020 Donald Trump presidential campaign - Wikipedia

It’s obvious, isn’t it? Breaking: Christian, “family values conservatives” not actually either one, reality finds.OK, that’s not totally fair. Regular, average Christians may be for real and embrace “family values”, whatever those are. The famous politicians/politically involved ones though? All a ruse. All a smokescreen to hide the fact that they’re actually dirty hypocrites and perverts. The list is long, but just to name a few:Ralph Shortey, Oklahoma State Representative, caught in a hotel room soliciting sex from underage male prostitute.Mark Sanford, former governor and senator of So. Carolina, told everyone he was going hiking on the Appalachian Trail, when really he was off with his Argentine mistress.Tim Murphy, former PA congressman, ran on a pro-life agenda, then asked his mistress to get an abortion.Wes Goodman, former Ohio State lawmaker, caught living a double life as a gay man, may have sexually assaulted a college student in a hotel room.There are others. Sure, the Democrats have them too, but it’s somewhat less shocking when they don’t paint themselves as proper, upstanding Christians first.

A case can be made that the apex of Donald Trump’s presidency occurred early this year, around the time of the State of the Union address. The Feb. 4 speech to a joint session of Congress began with Trump’s ignoring the outstretched hand of Speaker Nancy Pelosi — a pointed snub of the Democrat who, two months earlier, led his impeachment. For the next 78 minutes, Trump boasted about his accomplishments, like building an economy that “is the best it has ever been”; dished out red meat to his base, such as pledging a national ban on late-term abortions; and theatrically dispensed favors, including a Presidential Medal of Freedom for the conservative talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh.On that February evening, the first reported death from the coronavirus in the United States was more than three weeks away, and it appeared as if Trump had bent the office of the president, its trappings, the institutions of government and, indeed, all of American politics to his will. After he finished, Pelosi, standing behind Trump on the House rostrum, dramatically ripped up her copy of his speech. It was a made-for-meme moment — and at first, the meme’s natural constituency seemed to be the left, for whom Pelosi’s paper-shredding provided a rare flash of emotional gratification in an otherwise dark time. (The next day, the Republican-led Senate would vote to acquit Trump of all the impeachment articles, mooting the Democrats’ monthslong crusade.) But then Trump’s eldest child, Donald Trump Jr., had an idea.It came to him while he was eating lunch at the Trump International Hotel in Washington the day after the speech. Trump Jr. envisioned a video featuring the most benign and unobjectionable parts of his father’s address — hailing a Tuskegee Airman, reuniting a soldier who had just returned from Afghanistan with his wife and children, giving a private-school scholarship to a Black fourth grader from Philadelphia — spliced with footage of Pelosi ripping up the speech, as if she were objecting to these beneficent gestures and not to the president himself. Trump Jr. called Benny Johnson, a veteran right-wing meme maker who works for the conservative student group Turning Point USA, and asked him to get cracking.A few hours later, Trump Jr. posted the results of Johnson’s handiwork to his social media accounts. “Pelosi ripped up @realDonaldTrump’s speech last night,” he wrote on Twitter with a link to the video. “In that speech were stories of American Heroes & American Dreams. Their stories are more powerful than her hate.” The video immediately went viral, with the president himself tweeting it the next day.Pelosi demanded that Twitter and Facebook take down the video, arguing that it was deceptively edited. The social media companies refused. Trump’s allies used the spat to drive even more traffic. “It would be soooooo terrible if this video hits 10,000,000 views,” tweeted Dan Scavino, the White House social media director. In the end, the video racked up 50 million views, according to Johnson. (Thirty-seven million people watched the State of the Union address on TV.) “Don Jr. is a meme general in the meme wars,” Johnson says, “and he is commanding the D-Day invasion.The episode was emblematic of Trump Jr.’s role in his father’s political carnival. In one respect, the brazen disingenuousness and virality of the meme — and the way in which one led to the other — was unmistakably Trumpian. But there was a discipline and polish to Trump Jr.’s move that his father’s shambolic, logorrheic self-expressions so often lack. (Trump’s own initial reaction to the speech-ripping was to go on a late-night-into-early-morning Twitter tear, retweeting Pelosi criticism by everyone from his former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley to the 300-follower Twitter account @JonMart93888215.) And yet Trump Jr.’s gloss did nothing to soften his father’s message. It wasn’t Trump watered down. It was Trump distilled.When Trump ran for president in 2016, Trump Jr., who is now 42, was involved but hardly central to the effort. His sister Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, exercised sweeping influence over the campaign. Trump Jr., by contrast, was assigned small, discrete tasks, like putting his outdoorsmanship on display in a pheasant-hunting photo op with his brother, Eric, before the Iowa caucuses to counter attacks that his father was a liberal city slicker. (“Don, you can finally do something for me — you can go hunting,” his father told him, according to GQ magazine.) If he tried to go outside his narrow lane, disaster tended to follow. In the summer of 2016, he arranged for a Trump Tower meeting between Trump campaign officials and a Russian lawyer promising dirt on Hillary Clinton, an encounter that later became a focus of Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. The Trump team’s defense of Trump Jr. boiled down to the argument that he wasn’t a traitor, just an idiot — “by no means a sophisticated political actor,” Chris Christie said. Michael Cohen, at the time Trump’s personal attorney, later told a Senate panel that “Mr. Trump was very quick to tell everybody that he thinks Don Jr. has the worst judgment of anyone he’s ever met in the world.” Or, as the president himself put it, according to The Atlantic, “He’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer.”So it is one of the many surprises of Trump’s presidency that Trump Jr. has grown into arguably his father’s most valuable political weapon. “Don Jr. represents the emotional center of the MAGA universe,” says Jason Miller, a senior adviser on Trump’s re-election campaign. Before the pandemic, he was crisscrossing the country as his father’s most-requested campaign surrogate. Since the coronavirus curtailed his travel plans, he has become one of the Republican Party’s top virtual fund-raisers. His Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts have a combined 11 million followers and are vital cogs in the Republican messaging machine.After spending much of his adult life searching for a purpose, Trump Jr. seems to have found one in politics. His siblings can often seem to be patiently waiting out their father’s presidency. Eric, who has been running the Trump Organization in his father’s absence, continues building hotels and luxury condominiums. Ivanka and Kushner went to work in the White House, but she has told friends that she’s looking forward to returning to New York and to her lifestyle brand.But Trump Jr. does not want to go back to the way things were before. He has been electrified, and transformed, by his father’s presidency. He has largely given up the duties that go along with his title as an executive vice president of the Trump Organization in exchange for full-time politics. He has divorced — after 12 years of marriage and five children — Vanessa Haydon, who generally shied away from politics. His girlfriend of the last couple of years, with whom he recently bought a house in the Hamptons, is Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and conservative commentator who serves as the finance chair for his father’s re-election campaign.Now, as he works to secure a second term for Trump this November, Trump Jr. is also thinking about his own political future. He is wagering that by going all in on his father’s presidency and the tribal passions it has unleashed, he can claim his own durable place in American politics — that whether his father leaves the White House in 2021 or 2025, the answer to what comes after Trump will be more Trump.On Saturday, March 7, about 100 people gathered in a gilded ballroom at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla. The resort town was playing host to a retreat for major donors to Trump’s re-election campaign that weekend, and the highlight was a lavish party on Saturday night to celebrate Guilfoyle’s 51st birthday. The Trump family was there, save for Trump’s wife, Melania. So were a who’s who of the MAGA universe, including members of Congress, like Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina; Fox News stars like Jesse Watters and Tucker Carlson; administration officials including National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien and Trump loyalists like Rudy Giuliani; and even, for a time, President Jair M. Bolsonaro of Brazil, who was meeting with Trump at the club that weekend. Sergio Gor, Guilfoyle’s chief of staff on the Trump campaign and Trump Jr.’s collaborator on a forthcoming book, played M.C. and D.J., standing on a stage between two spinning disco balls. “It was like a Gatsby-esque extravaganza,” one guest recalls.Trump Jr., an avid fisherman, had been up since before dawn, unsuccessfully pursuing a hammerhead shark at a nearby inlet. Poolside at Mar-a-Lago later that morning, among the club’s guests outfitted in white linen, he showed off pictures of the six-foot nurse shark he did catch to Gaetz; with his camouflage and fishing rod, he looked as if “he just came off the set of ‘Duck Dynasty,’” Gaetz recalls. By the evening, he had traded camo for a suit and tie and was seated at the head table alongside Guilfoyle in her gold-sequined minidress. “Princess, you are the best,” he said, according to The Washington Examiner, when it was his turn for a toast. “Thank you for everything that you do. I love you very much, and get back to work, OK?”He turned to the guests. “You are in this room for a reason,” he said. “You guys have been the warriors, the fighters, the people who have been there every time we have made a call, every time we made a request.” He added, “I’m sure Kimberly will hit you up.” As the president stood beside Guilfoyle and led the group in a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday,” Trump Jr. looked on, beaming. When the song was finished, Guilfoyle shouted, “Four more years!” The president kissed her on the head and smiled at his son.The two men had for years had a difficult relationship. Trump’s ex-wife Ivana recounts in her 2017 book, “Raising Trump,” that when she suggested naming their newly born first child Donald Jr., Trump protested: “You can’t do that! What if he’s a loser?” After his parents divorced, a 12-year-old Trump Jr. refused to speak to his father for a year. Later, he seemed intent on escaping the celebrity businessman’s shadow and reputation. At the Fiji fraternity at the University of Pennsylvania, Trump Jr.’s nickname was Ron Rump, and his fraternity brothers called him Ron. “He loved it, perhaps because it gave him an extra level of anonymity,” one of them recalls. Rather than working for the Trump Organization immediately after college, Trump Jr. spent a year and half in Aspen, Colo., skiing, hunting, fishing and tending bar at night.In 2001, he moved back to New York City and took his place at the company. But his greatest contribution to the family business came on the set of “The Apprentice,” which he joined as an occasional boardroom judge in the show’s 2006 season. He was valued by the producers as a stabilizing presence, running interference between the cast and crew and the volatile star, his father. When Trump would berate crew members for a mistake, one “Apprentice” producer recalls, Trump Jr., speaking from a well of personal experience, would console them: “It’s not your fault; it’s your turn.”People who worked on the show remember him often trying to lighten the mood. “He provided the comic relief, because his dad doesn’t have a sense of humor and Ivanka wasn’t someone who made jokes,” says Clay Aiken, the “American Idol” finalist who appeared on “The Celebrity Apprentice” in 2012. “He was perfectly fine to take the piss out of himself, but sometimes he’d make a joke about his dad — and then you could tell he was really nervous his dad wouldn’t like it. His self-esteem was in the gutter.”Much of the popular image of Trump Jr., especially among liberals, seems to stem from those years: “uselessly trying to impress a man who can only be impressed by himself” (GQ); “a recurring liability and a chronic headache” (The Daily Beast); the “Fredo” of the Trump family (Twitter). In the first days of Trump’s presidency, he seemed poised for more of the same. After the election, while Ivanka and Kushner headed to Washington, Trump Jr. stayed behind in New York, ostensibly to run the Trump Organization with Eric. But he had little to do. He was in charge of the company’s international portfolio, and while he could continue working on overseas projects that predated his father’s election, he couldn’t embark on new ones.For a time, he tried to play a role in shaping the administration’s public-lands policy and other issues related to his outdoor activities, which had earned him the Secret Service code name Mountaineer. Senator Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana, used an elk-hunting trip with Trump Jr. in November 2016 to lobby the incoming administration to pick an interior secretary from the Mountain West. “I wanted a Westerner,” Daines says, “and Westerner doesn’t mean West Virginia. It doesn’t mean Oklahoma.” Trump Jr. recommended Ryan Zinke, then a Montana congressman and a friend of Daines’s, for the Department of Interior job. Zinke got the nod but resigned in December 2018 after a scandal-plagued tenure.Trump Jr.’s relatively low public profile ended on July 8, 2017, when The New York Times revealed his role in arranging the Trump Tower meeting the previous summer between Trump campaign officials and the Russian lawyer and her associates. Though little seems to have come out of the meeting, a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report released this month found that the Russians had “significant connections to the Russian government, including the Russian intelligence services.”A few days after the Times article ran, Trump Jr. went on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show to defend himself in a softball interview. “There was nothing to tell,” he said of the meeting. “I wouldn’t have even remembered it until you started scouring through this stuff.” His stock among conservatives rose as he proceeded to wage a sustained campaign against the news media, Mueller and congressional investigators pursuing their own Russia inquiry. (It was reported this month that in 2019, the Senate Intelligence Committee’s Republican and Democratic leaders made a criminal referral of Trump Jr. and several other Trump associates to the Justice Department for lying or providing contradictory testimony to the panel.) He became a frequent guest on Fox News and an enthusiastic participant in the political fights of the moment. “Don’s favorite part of politics is getting punched in the face with a jab and responding with a haymaker,” one person close to him says.To those who know Trump Jr., his attraction to politics was not surprising. “He was the only family member who talked politics before his dad ran for president,” the person close to him says. “He’s the only one of the kids who would have found a way into politics if the dad hadn’t run for office.” And those politics have always tilted hard to the right. Speaking to the Senate Intelligence Committee in 2018, Stephen K. Bannon, the Trump adviser who had run the right-wing website Breitbart, said, “I’d describe Don Jr., who I think very highly of, as a guy who believes everything on Breitbart is true.” Or as Sam Nunberg, an adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign, says, “Don’s a real winger, and I mean that as a compliment.”Credit...Illustration by Eric YahnkerIn early 2018, Trump Jr. approached Andy Surabian, a young Republican operative who worked on the 2016 campaign and then in the White House for Bannon. Trump Jr. was by then a formidable presence on social media and Fox News, but, he explained to Surabian, he wanted to move into real politics by stumping for Republican congressional candidates in the midterm elections. Surabian put together a campaign schedule for him that, from May to November, featured 70 events in 17 states. Among the candidates he campaigned for was Matt Gaetz, a young congressman from Florida who spent much of his first term loudly demonstrating his loyalty to Trump. “We need fighters!” Trump Jr. said from behind a lectern decorated with a “Make America Gaetz Again!” sign. Now, Gaetz says, “constantly candidates are begging me to get his phone number, or a photo with him, or a chance for a retweet or an endorsement.”The president can still be brutally dismissive of his son, grousing about his enthusiasm for firearms or questioning his political intelligence, according to multiple people present for such conversations. When Trump appeared on a special Father’s Day edition of “Triggered,” Trump Jr.’s biweekly online talk show for the Trump campaign, the awkwardness between the men was painful. Trump Jr. asked the president if he liked his beard. “Get rid of it,” Trump growled, to peals of nervous laughter from Trump Jr.But the president is, at heart, a transactional person. As Trump Jr.’s political star has risen, Trump advisers say, so has Trump’s appreciation for him. Cliff Sims, a former White House communications aide, recalls watching television with the president in the private dining room off the Oval Office one afternoon when Trump Jr. appeared on the screen. “The president stopped what he was doing and turned up the volume,” Sims says. “He literally said to me, ‘He’s really good at this, isn’t he?’ He had this kind of feeling like, He’s a chip off the old block.”Trump Jr. is now a key player in the Republican Party’s 2020 operation. He and Guilfoyle have become fund-raising powerhouses, coaxing large donations from high-dollar donors. (Guilfoyle is reportedly paid $15,000 a month by the Trump campaign.) Email solicitations sent out by the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House Republicans’ election arm, under Trump Jr.’s name have so far raised more than $3 million in small-dollar donations. “Triggered” is the most watched of the Trump campaign’s slate of digital shows. In September, Trump Jr. plans to return to the campaign trail four days a week; in October, that’s expected to increase to six days a week.The greatest measure of his newfound political clout is the heated competition among Republicans to offer the most sycophantic quote about him. Gaetz hails Trump Jr. as “the most dynamic voice that you hear in American politics other than when it’s preceded by ‘Hail to the Chief.’” Sean Spicer, the former White House press secretary, calls him “a downright rock star.” Jeff Roe, Senator Ted Cruz’s political strategist, deems him “a next-level, generational talent.” Republicans speak of Trump Jr.’s hunting-and-fishing prowess the way Red Guards once talked about Mao swimming the Yangtze. “I’ve shot with Green Beret snipers,” Daines says, “and Donald Trump Jr. is as good a shot as anybody I’ve ever shot with. He’s a remarkable marksman. And by the way, on fly fishing, too — I’m not trying to exaggerate his skills, but I’ve been around a lot of guys that fly fish, and he’s a guide-quality fly fisherman.”In addition to Surabian, Trump Jr.’s innermost inner circle consists of Arthur Schwartz, a New York Republican operative with a reputation for the political dark arts; Tommy Hicks, a Texas private-equity scion and hunting buddy of Trump Jr.’s who’s now co-chairman of the Republican National Committee; and Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA who became friendly with Trump Jr. when he served as his body man during the final months of the 2016 campaign. A little further outside are people like Richard Grenell, who served as Trump’s ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence; Cliff Sims; Sergio Gor; and young Republican congressmen like Gaetz and Lee Zeldin of New York.Through phone calls and text chains, the group — which Gaetz calls “the wolf pack”— formulates Trump Jr.’s political moves. “It could be fairly argued that Don Jr. and his political team,” a Trump adviser says, “have a better rapid-response operation than the White House communications office has ever had.” And Trump Jr.’s favorite form of rapid response, like his father’s, is the social media post. “He stares at his iPhone all the time,” says a Republican operative who has traveled with Trump Jr. “He’s locked and loaded.”The wolf pack is made up of some of the most cynical and situational people in G.O.P. politics, whose priorities oscillate between “owning the libs” and loyalty enforcement among Republicans. Last October, Trump Jr. began tweeting against Lindsey Graham for not doing enough, as the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, to protect his father from impeachment, raising an online army under the hashtag #WheresLindsey to demand that Graham issue subpoenas on Trump’s behalf. That month, Graham attended a World Series game with the president. “For at least three innings, Lindsey was squawking at the president to get Don Jr. off his ass,” says Gaetz, who was with them at the game. (Graham’s office declined to comment.)In February, Trump Jr. posted to his Instagram account a picture of Mitt Romney, who had just voted to convict his father in the Senate impeachment trial, in some tragically high-waisted jeans with the caption, “MOM JEANS: Because you’re a pussy.” It was a juvenile move, and it was the subject of some debate within the wolf pack. Over lunch that day, Trump Jr. asked Surabian what he thought of the meme. (If the message is deemed too inflammatory, it will often appear on Schwartz’s Twitter account instead of Trump Jr.’s.) The two ultimately concluded that while the language and image would undoubtedly generate negative headlines, it would also grab eyeballs, and that Trump Jr.’s own attached comment, calling on Romney to “be expelled from the @GOP,” justified the post. “The meme got attention and guaranteed it went viral,” the person close to Trump Jr. says, “but it was the message that Mitt should be kicked out of the caucus that we cared about and wanted to make sure got out there.”During the 2016 campaign, Trump Jr. posted to Instagram a picture, titled “The Deplorables,” of the faces of various high-profile Trump supporters superimposed on the bodies of characters from the action movie “The Expendables”; one face was that of Pepe the Frog, a cartoon character that had by then been embraced as a mascot by white supremacists online. He also posted on Twitter a picture of a candy bowl with the text: “If I had a bowl of Skittles and I told you just three would kill you. Would you take a handful? That’s our Syrian refugee problem.” The trope of undesirable people hiding among good ones dates to the Holocaust, and the “poisoned candy” metaphor had become popular with xenophobes online.In each instance, Trump Jr. professed ignorance. “I’ve never even heard of Pepe the Frog,” he told George Stephanopoulos of ABC News. “I thought it was a frog in a wig. I thought it was funny.” Elsewhere, he said the Skittles picture was “a statistical thing.” And yet throughout his father’s presidency, Trump Jr. has preserved his winking proximity to the far-right and conspiracist fringe, while avoiding his father’s clumsier cycles of embraces and disavowals.The president in the past several months has routinely retweeted the Twitter accounts of followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory, which posits that Trump is doing battle with a cabal of Democratic and “deep state” elites who run a child-sex-trafficking ring. When Trump was asked about QAnon, which the F.B.I. has labeled a domestic terrorism threat, at a White House news conference this month, he replied, “I’ve heard these are people that love our country.” Trump Jr. has himself avoided such signal-boosting and overt praise of QAnon, but in May he posted to Instagram a picture of Joe Biden saying, “See you later, alligator!” alongside an image of an alligator responding, “In a while, pedophile!” When Jake Tapper of CNN subsequently called out the Trumps for the smear, Trump Jr. responded on Twitter: “Jake, I’m sorry that you’re more upset (Triggered!) about a joke meme than you are @JoeBiden’s gross habit of touching & sniffing young girls.” Early this year, he posted a picture of himself to Instagram holding a custom AR-15-style rifle emblazoned with the “Jerusalem cross,” a symbol used by Christian soldiers during the Crusades that has been adopted by far-right extremist groups; the rifle’s magazine clip was decorated with an image of Hillary Clinton behind bars.Surabian, speaking for Trump Jr., told CNN that “symbols on firearms depicting various historical warriors are extremely common within the Second Amendment community,” and that the Clinton-behind-bars image was a meme intended to “mock Hillary Clinton” and “trigger humorless liberals.” As for the Biden-as-pedophile posts, Trump Jr. maintained that he was just “joking around.” When I asked whether Trump Jr. believes in the QAnon conspiracy theory, Surabian replied, “Of course not.” But in July, Trump Jr. finally ran afoul of Twitter by tweeting a viral video making false claims about hydroxychloroquine’s efficacy in treating Covid-19. Twitter hid the post from view and suspended his tweeting privileges for 12 hours. “Big tech is activist liberal,” he complained on Fox News.By then, he was already adept at strategically picking fights outside the conservative media bubble. Last fall, when he published his book “Triggered” — a farrago of tossed-off personal history and predictable political attacks that sold 287,000 hardcover copies, thanks, in part, to bulk purchases by the Republican National Committee — Hachette Book Group pressed him to do some mainstream media appearances. Trump Jr.’s team, seeking a spectacle, reached out to “The View.” He came prepared. When Joy Behar asked him about his father boasting on the “Access Hollywood” tape of sexually assaulting women, Trump Jr. fired back that Behar had worn blackface to a Halloween party in the 1970s and that Whoopi Goldberg had once defended Roman Polanski. “We’ve all done things that we regret,” he said, “if we’re talking about bringing the discourse down.” The only “View” host he didn’t go out of his way to antagonize was Meghan McCain, even offering her a semi-apology for his father’s attacks against hers. “We realized that the biggest headline to come out of his appearance could not be Meghan McCain confronting him about his dad,” says the person close to Trump Jr.In February, Trump Jr. traveled to Iowa on the eve of the state’s caucuses in a show of force. Although his father faced no serious opposition for the Republican nomination, he was leading a group of some 80 congressmen, cabinet members and other Republicans to stump for Trump there and, more important, rough up the Democrats. He was just about to speak at a “Keep Iowa Great” event outside Des Moines when a Jewish protester began yelling that Trump Jr.’s father was responsible for a rise in anti-Semitism. As the protester was hauled out of the rally by security guards, Trump Jr. shouted, “I don’t think anyone’s done more for Israel and American Jews than Donald Trump!”With the crowd cheering him on, he launched into a tirade against the reporters in the room, then pledged to do everything in his power to help his father win re-election. “We don’t just have to lose,” he said. “We don’t just have to roll over and die because the other side wants us to and their buddies in the mainstream media want us to. That’s not how it works anymore.” He added, “We will fight harder than any people you’ve ever seen for the next 10 months to make sure that this continues.”At the time, it seemed likely that Trump would win a second term. But then the coronavirus happened, infecting over 5.5 million Americans (including Guilfoyle) and killing more than 170,000 of them, paralyzing the economy and imperiling Trump’s re-election prospects. At the end of the Democratic National Convention this month, he trailed Biden in the RealClearPolitics national polling average by 7.6 points — not an insurmountable deficit, but a daunting one.At the White House and inside the Trump campaign, there remains a stubborn, almost defiant sense of optimism — born, they believe, out of experience — that the president will win in November. “I can say that, having been there four years ago, things looked a lot worse back in 2016 than whatever crisis politically the president might be going through right now,” Charlie Kirk says. When I asked Jason Miller about the degree of worry inside his office, he replied, “I haven’t picked up on any of the W-word that you just threw around in such a cavalier fashion.”But Trump Jr. is apparently worried. “Don’s the only person who thinks they’re going to lose,” says a prominent conservative activist who is in regular contact with him and other key members of Trump’s political operation. “He’s like, ‘We’re losing, dude, and we’re going to get really hurt when we lose.’” An electoral defeat in November, Trump Jr. fears, could result in federal prosecutions of Trump, his family and his political allies. He has told the conservative activist that he expects that a Biden administration will not participate in a “peaceful transition” and instead will “shoot the prisoners.” (“This is 100 percent false,” Surabian says. “Don does not have these concerns.”)Even assuming his worst fears aren’t realized, a Trump defeat in November would pose an existential question for Trump Jr. He has become a figure of genuine political value, but that value remains mostly a function of his status as the premier surrogate for his father. This is the most treasured currency there is in a Republican Party in which political fortunes now rise and fall based on proximity and devotion to Donald Trump — but what happens to that currency if Trump leaves the stage? At the same time, it is difficult to see Trump Jr. coming fully into his own as a political figure until he does what he struggled unsuccessfully to do in his younger years: escape his father’s shadow. Although he would obviously prefer that his father win in November, people close to him say that, in some ways, having Trump out of the White House would be advantageous for Trump Jr. They use words like “unshackled” and “free” and speculate excitedly about his running for office in Montana or Florida — or, a few dare to dream, even the presidency — in 2024.Those who are familiar with Trump Jr.’s thinking, though, say that’s not going to happen — at least not in the next four years. “Don can do everything he wants to do in politics,” says the person close to him, “without running for office.” The wolf pack talks about how Trump Jr. would be a natural podcaster or talk-radio host; Fox News — or perhaps a new conservative TV channel — could give him his own show. He has expressed interest in playing a prominent role in a revivified National Rifle Association and is open to the idea of serving as chairman of the Republican National Committee. This month, he will release his second book, “Liberal Privilege,” a rehash of Biden’s various supposed sins that he wrote during the pandemic lockdown.Trump has marveled to aides at the response Trump Jr. received when, before the pandemic, he appeared at Trump rallies, where he was typically greeted with cheers of “46! 46!” (Donald Trump is the 45th president of the United States.) “It’s sort of cool if you’re at a stadium of 15,000 people and they start chanting ‘46’ when you’re speaking,” Trump Jr. told the comedian Jim Norton in February when he appeared on the satellite-radio show Norton hosts with Sam Roberts. Still, he said, “I don’t know that I’d like the day job, and that’s a big part of it.”Later in the interview, he complained that “someone in the mainstream media will write an article” about his cursing on the show. (No one in the mainstream media ever did, but then, “owning the libs” has never required actual owning of the libs.) “Did you ever think, though, that you’d get to be an adult, and then there’d be somebody who wanted to write a newspaper article that you used the F-word?” Roberts asked.“No, I did not,” Trump Jr. said, “because we’re not adults, guys. The reality is, like, there are no adults in the room anymore.”From Donald Trump Jr. Is Ready. But for What, Exactly?