Rep Ken Buck claims three House Republicans will resign alongside him over Donald Trump nomination
WASHINGTON, DC: In an interesting turn of events, Representative Ken Buck of Colorado announced his resignation from the House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 12, leaving his seat vacant and further narrowing the Republican majority to 218 to 213.
While initially intending to retire at the end of his term, Buck's sudden departure has raised eyebrows and sparked speculation about the future of other dissatisfied Republican lawmakers.
When questioned by Axios regarding potential pressure from colleagues influencing his decision, Buck hinted at the possibility of more resignations, stating, "I think it's the next three people that leave that they're going to be worried about."
While he didn't specify who might follow suit, several Republican representatives have openly expressed discontent with the party's nominee for the presidential election, Donald Trump, potentially paving the way for further exits from Congress.
Key Figures Under Scrutiny
Among those under scrutiny is David Valadao, a California congressman who garnered attention for his vote to impeach Trump in 2021 and has since distanced himself from endorsing the former president's reelection bid.
However, a spokesperson for Valadao confirmed to Newsweek that he has no intention of resigning and is actively seeking reelection in the 22nd district.
Similarly, Thomas Massie of Kentucky has voiced criticism of Trump, particularly regarding what he perceives as "bullying tactics" in securing endorsements from fearful Republicans. Massie previously supported former presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his bid for the Republican nomination.
Chip Roy, representing Texas, has been vocal about Trump's handling of issues at the US-Mexico border, accusing the former president of failing to fully secure the border. Roy's criticism has drawn ire from Trump himself, who labeled him a "RINO" (Republican in name only) on social media.
Larry Bucshon of Indiana has also been a vocal opponent of Trump, predicting in August 2023 that the former president would not secure the GOP nomination due to ongoing controversies. Bucshon further condemned Trump's remarks about migrants and denounced his role in inciting the Capitol riots in 2021.
Greg Pence of Indiana and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, while not directly involved in efforts to disrupt the 2020 election result, have announced their retirement from Congress at the end of their terms. Despite voting against impeaching Trump, their decisions to step down have added to speculation about further resignations within the Republican Party.
Social Media Reactions
Social media platforms erupted with reactions following reports of Republican departures from Congress due to Trump's nomination.
"These are Progressive Republicans… they’ve never had any sense of kinship with anything remotely American," one posted on X.
"This is how you clean out the RINO's. Chip Roy is a big one," another wrote.
"Yes, please," someone else added.
"That would be most excellent!" another chimed in.
These are Progressive Republicans… they’ve never had any sense of kinship with anything remotely American.
— Elvis R. Montana (@elvisrmontana) March 14, 2024
Trump's Victory and the Road Ahead
Trump's victory in the GOP primary - securing more than the required 1,215 delegates - sets the stage for a contentious general election campaign against President Joe Biden.
Amid ongoing criminal investigations, including a trial set to commence on March 25 in New York City, Trump remains determined to reclaim the presidency, vowing to tackle issues such as the border crisis and the economy, the Associated Press reported.
In a video to supporters Tuesday night, the former President called it a “really great day of victory.”
“We now have to go on to victory because our country’s in serious trouble,” complaining about the border and the economy and claiming the U.S. has “no respect on the world stage," he said.
“For this evening and for last week and for all the weeks before, for the tremendous success we’ve had in this primary, I want to thank everybody. But much more importantly, we have to get to work to beat Joe Biden, the worst administration, the worst president in the history of our country," he added.
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