Across the country, Republican elected officials face an important question that tests their strength and values: Will they call out President Trump for his appalling behaviors?
Long ago, I made clear I have no problem doing so. In fact, in the tweet currently pinned to the top of my X profile, I share a column from the Dallas Morning News. Written by Glenn Rogers, a former Republican state representative, it asks, "Republicans, where do you draw the line?"
My answer: My line was drawn years ago. Trump is vile. He's not conservative. And MAGA is a cult.
This may be difficult for some people to hear, particularly those who have been told that MAGA is a "conservative" movement. For many people who don't follow the news closely, this may seem like a sensible claim. But look at the reality, and you see that it isn't.
There are many reasons for this. But let's start with the most recent, disturbing one: outright heresy and hypocrisy.
The other day, Trump shared an image depicting himself in a way evocative of Jesus. Faced with criticism, he deleted the post and tried to claim that he thought it was showing him "as a doctor." As though he thinks doctors put on white robes and heal people by touching their foreheads while glowing light radiates from their hands.
Having grown up in the Baptist Church, I can only imagine what would have happened if President Obama had posted a similar image of himself.
Some conservatives did criticize Trump over this. But others rushed to defend him. There should be much more outrage about this among Republicans than we're seeing now.
The context is important as well. This happened amid a public feud between Trump and the pope of all people. As the National Catholic Register put it in a headline, "Presidents and Popes Haven't Always Agreed, but It's Never Been Like This." Trump's "personal attacks on Pope Leo are unprecedented," the article says.
He also posted a message on Easter Sunday telling Iran to, "Open the Fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah." It's unimaginable for any other president to post something like this publicly, let alone on Easter.
But at this point, what do we expect? Trump's behavior and constant rants have never been reflective of the Christian values I believe in.
His actions are also not conservative.
Under Trump's leadership, the national debt has ballooned even further, exceeding $39 trillion. Fortune recently reported on a warning from the International Monetary Fund: "The explosion of U.S. debt is wiping out the 'safety premium' of Treasury bonds." This is not shocking, particularly given that Trump added trillions of dollars to the debt during his first term, even before COVID.
In his second term, Trump has given us "the least conservative government of my lifetime," one economist said recently. From meddling in private businesses for his own political reasons, to spending taxpayer funds on equity in companies, to subverting the independence of federal institutions, Trump is delivering the opposite of small government.
This brings us back to the question: Will Republicans call him out? In our political duopoly, it's easy for members of the other big party (Democrats) to do so.
But some GOP political figures are too afraid to alienate him. They want him in their corner, funding and fueling their future campaigns. They also don't want to lose his remaining die-hard supporters.
These elected officials need to hear from the rest of us. Other elected Republicans should join me in making absolutely clear that Trump does not represent us.
Sure, I'm not a typical Republican. I'm a conservative, and ran for D.A. on a Republican ticket because it had an opening. Local residents here in Texas' 143rd Judicial District wanted me to take over a failing office. I'm honored to hold this post.
No matter how someone came to be an elected Republican, the responsibility remains the same. We must call out this president, his administration, and the lackeys who follow him blindly.
If we can't stand against all this, then what do we really stand for?