All the Republicans Who Have Decided Not to Support Trump – The New York Times
As November draws nearer, a few current and former Republican officials have begun to break ranks with the rest of their party, saying in public and private conversations that they will not support President Trump in his re-election. Some have even said that they will be voting for his Democratic opponent, Joseph R. Biden Jr.
As Mr. Trumps political standing has slipped, fueled by his failures in handling the coronavirus pandemic and by the economic recession, some Republicans have found it easier to publicly renounce their backing.
Here is a running list of those who have said they will not support Mr. Trump in the fall, those who have gone a step further and said theyll vote for Mr. Biden, and those who have hinted they may not back the president.
Former President George W. Bush: Although he has not spoken about whom he will vote for in November, people familiar with Mr. Bushs thinking have said it wont be Mr. Trump. Mr. Bush did not endorse him in 2016.
Senator Mitt Romney of Utah: Mr. Romney has long been critical of Mr. Trump, and was the only Republican senator to vote to convict him during his impeachment trial. Mr. Romney is still mulling over whom he will vote for in November he opted for his wife, Ann, four years ago but he is said to be sure it wont be the president.
John Bolton, the former national security adviser: As he rolled out his recently published book, The Room Where It Happened, Mr. Bolton said in multiple interviews that he would not vote for Mr. Trump in November. He added that he would write in the name of a conservative Republican, but that he was not sure which one.
Jeff Flake, the former senator from Arizona: Mr. Flake said in an interview with The Washington Post: This wont be the first time Ive voted for a Democrat though not for president. He added: Last time I voted for a third-party candidate. But I will not vote for Donald Trump.
William H. McRaven, a retired four-star Navy admiral: Several Republican admirals and generals have publicly announced they will not support the president. In an interview with The New York Times, Admiral McRaven, who directed the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, said, This fall, its time for new leadership in this country Republican, Democrat or independent.
He added, President Trump has shown he doesnt have the qualities necessary to be a good commander in chief.
Cindy McCain, the widow of Senator John McCain: During the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, Ms. McCain appeared in a video and recounted her husbands relationship with Mr. Biden. Although she did not endorse Mr. Biden in the video, Ms. McCain has expressed frustration with the direction of the Republican Party under Mr. Trump, whose attacks on Mr. McCain continued after the senators death.
John Kasich, the former governor of Ohio: After competing against Mr. Trump in the 2016 Republican primary, Mr. Kasich has never really thrown his support behind the president. But this week, he will be speaking at the Democratic National Convention and making the case for Mr. Biden.
Ive known Joe, Mr. Kasich said on CNN recently. Ive known him for 30 years. I know the kind of guy he is.
Colin Powell, the former secretary of state: Mr. Powell announced in June that he would vote for Mr. Biden. He said that Mr. Trump lies about things and that Republicans in Congress would not hold him accountable. Mr. Powell added that he was close to Mr. Biden politically and socially and had worked with him for more than 35 years. On Tuesday night, he gave a message of support to Mr. Biden at the Democratic convention.
Miles Taylor, a former chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security: Mr. Taylor endorsed Mr. Biden, saying that the president was actively doing damage to our security and that what he had witnessed Mr. Trump do as chief executive was terrifying. Mr. Taylor is the most senior former member of the administration to openly endorse Mr. Biden.
Christine Whitman, a former governor of New Jersey: Ms. Whitman was one of the few Republicans speaking at the Democratic National Convention. In October, Ms. Whitman told the television host Larry King that she would vote for Mr. Biden if he were the nominee, calling him the Democrats best chance at winning in 2020.
Meg Whitman, the chief executive of Quibi: A former senior official for both of Mitt Romneys presidential campaigns and a former Republican candidate for governor of California, Ms. Whitman (no relation to Christine Whitman) also spoke at the Democratic Convention. She supported Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Susan Molinari, a former congresswoman from New York: Ms. Molinari spoke at the convention, as well. A former lobbyist for Google, she was on the Trump administrations transition contributor list, but now appears to be supporting Mr. Biden.
Carly Fiorina, a 2016 presidential candidate: Ms. Fiorina has said she will support Mr. Biden because he is a person of humility and empathy and character.
Representative Francis Rooney of Florida: Mr. Rooney has said he was considering supporting Mr. Biden partly because Mr. Trump was driving us all crazy and because the presidents handling of the coronavirus led to a death toll that didnt have to happen. Mr. Rooneys hesitation about Mr. Biden was his worry that left-wing Democrats might pull the former vice president away from the moderate political mainstream. But he does think Mr. Biden can win.
A lot of people that voted for President Trump did so because they did not like Hillary Clinton, Mr. Rooney said. I dont see that happening with Joe Biden how can you not like Joe Biden?
Charlie Dent, a former congressman from Pennsylvania: Mr. Dent endorsed Mr. Biden on CNN, saying this isnt about right or left for me, its about right and wrong.
Have expressed reluctance or misgivings, but havent openly dropped their backing
Paul Ryan and John Boehner, the former speakers of the House: Both have expressed their dislike of the president, but have not said whom they will support in November.
John Kelly, a former chief of staff to the president: Mr. Kelly has not said whom he plans to vote for, but did say he wished we had some additional choices.
Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska: She has said that shes grappling with whether to support Mr. Trump in November. She told reporters on Capitol Hill in June: I am struggling with it. I have struggled with it for a long time.
She said: I think right now, as we are all struggling to find ways to express the words that need to be expressed appropriately, questions about who Im going to vote for or not going to vote for, I think, are distracting at the moment. I know people might think thats a dodge, but I think there are important conversations that we need to have as an American people among ourselves about where we are right now.
Mark Sanford, a former congressman and governor of South Carolina: Mr. Sanford briefly challenged the president in this cycles Republican primary, and said last year that he would support Mr. Trump if the president won the nomination (which was never in doubt).
That has since changed.
Hes treading on very thin ice, Mr. Sanford said in June, worrying that the president is threatening the stability of the country.
Dan Coats, a former senator from Indiana: Mr. Coats, who used to be Mr. Trumps director of intelligence, is worried about the administrations effects on the intelligence community. He hasnt said whom he will support. Kevin Kellems, a longtime adviser to Mr. Coats, said that ultimately he remains a loyal Republican, but he believes the American people will decide on Nov. 3.
Maggie Haberman contributed reporting.
Read more here:
All the Republicans Who Have Decided Not to Support Trump - The New York Times
- Democrats make a new offer to end the shutdown, but Republicans aren't buying it - NBC News - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- The Republicans Warning They Have a Problem - The New York Times - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES ON MSNBC: DONALD TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS HAVE DECIDED TO WEAPONIZE HUNGER AND STARVATION Congressman Hakeem Jeffries - Congressman... - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Democrats consider prolonging the government shutdown as Republicans prepare new bills without health care fix - ABC7 Los Angeles - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Democrats consider prolonging the shutdown as Republicans prepare new bills without health care fix - abcnews.go.com - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Republicans are losing this key voting bloc. Here's why. - USA Today - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Republicans Block Measure to Bar Military Strike on Venezuela - The New York Times - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Republicans are losing support from Latinos in Colorado as voters voice dissatisfaction with immigration, inflation efforts - Post Independent - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans Reject Measure to Block Military Action in Venezuela - WSJ - The Wall Street Journal - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Senate will vote Friday to advance shutdown-ending deal, Thune tells Republicans - Politico - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- EDITORIAL: Stuck on Stupid-How Annapolis Republicans Turned Another Election Into a Self-Inflicted Rout - Eye On Annapolis - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Article | Key Republicans waver ahead of war powers vote - POLITICO Pro - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Charlotte GOP lost big on election night. Is it final nail in coffin for Republicans? - Charlotte Observer - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Republicans must nuke filibuster now or Democrats will do it when they regain power, Trump warns - Washington Examiner - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Trump and Republicans admonish others for their election losses - Politico - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Republicans think the shutdown is about to end. They could be dead wrong. - MSNBC News - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Trump says election results not good for Republicans, citing 2 possible reasons - Fox News - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Republicans Just Lost a Statewide Election in Pennsylvania. What Does That Mean for the Future? - Slate - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- California Republicans thought they could beat Newsom's gerrymander. They crashed and burned. - Politico - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- In an Upset, Democrats Oust Two Republicans on Georgias Utility Board - The New York Times - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Democratic election wins send Trump and Republicans a message: Americans blame them for government shutdown - The Conversation - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Kansas Young Republicans' racist texts show how far the party has strayed from its noble roots - Kansas Reflector - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Republicans Reprise Unfounded Claims of Widespread Election Interference - The New York Times - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Remember the hateful Young Republicans group chat? It's the tip of the iceberg. | Opinion - USA Today - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Trump urges Republicans to kill filibuster, warning they'll lose if they don't - Politico - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Rosen: Trump, Republicans feast while SNAP, health benefits on the line - Nevada Current - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Video Republicans need to 'think about what happened': GOP strategist - abcnews.go.com - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- How Republicans are planning to win the 2026 midterms without Trump on the ballot - abcnews.go.com - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Trump Orders Republicans to Approve His Sinister Plan to Rule Forever - The Daily Beast - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Enfield Democrats upend Republicans, Vernon's GOP mayor reelected and more 2025 election results - CT Insider - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- In Redistricting Battles, Heres How Trump, Republicans and Democrats Are Faring - The New York Times - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Trump says this is what Republicans need to do next following election defeats - MLive.com - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Why Republicans had a 'math problem' in off-year election - Fox News - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Poll: Republicans shoulder more shutdown blame, as signs of voter irritation with both parties pile up - NBC News - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- Republicans argue big-hearted president Trump is keen to end shutdown - The Guardian - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- Republicans re-up trans attacks on Dems that worked for Trump in 2024 - The Washington Post - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- Republicans Claim They Have a Healthcare Plan. But They Wont Tell You Whats in It - Rolling Stone - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- Virginia Republicans rally in Hanover ahead of Election Day, highlighting work since 2022 - WRIC ABC 8News - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- Ted Cruz to Jewish Republicans: Antisemitism is an existential crisis in our party - The Times of Israel - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- Obama says it's 'like every day is Halloween' as he blames Republicans for government shutdown - Fox News - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- House Republicans exploring ways to prevent Mamdani from being sworn in as NYC mayor if he wins on Election Day - New York Post - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- Opinion: Republicans keep winning. Sand hopes to change the game - thegazette.com - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- President Trump, House Speaker Johnson, others address Las Vegas meeting of Jewish Republicans - Las Vegas Review-Journal - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- Obama blasts Trump ahead of Election Day in Virginia and New Jersey. Republicans keep it local - Decatur Daily - November 3rd, 2025 [November 3rd, 2025]
- Republicans quickly push back on Trumps call to nix filibuster - Politico - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Democrats and Republicans Clash Over SNAP Contingency Funds - FactCheck.org - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Republicans' refusal to fund SNAP will hurt their own voters most. They don't care. | Opinion - USA Today - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Trump calls on Republicans to abolish the Senate filibuster rule - The Guardian - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Trump urges Republicans to kill the filibuster - Politico - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- The Nation: Texas Republicans Are Doubling Down on Banning Capital Gains Taxes - itep.org - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Trump tells Senate Republicans to use "nuclear option" to end shutdown - Axios - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Republicans notch redistricting win in Ohio but it could have been worse for Democrats - Politico - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Full List of Republicans Sponsoring SNAP Funding Bill as Benefits Run Out - Newsweek - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Trump calls for Republicans to scrap the Senate filibuster and end the shutdown - NBC News - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Four ways Republicans pushed back on Trump this week - Axios - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Trump Pushes to Scrap the Filibuster to End the Shutdown. Heres What Republicans Have Said About It - Time Magazine - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- VIDEO: As Open Enrollment Begins, Rosen Issues Statement on Spike in Health Care Costs And Calls on Washington Republicans to Extend Tax Credits -... - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Trump Urges Republicans to End the Filibuster to Reopen Government - The Wall Street Journal - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Trump wants Senate Republicans to scrap the filibuster to end the government shutdown - CBS News - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- How ending the Senate filibuster could impact Democrats and Republicans - CBS News - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Trump tells Republicans to play "Nuclear Option" and scrap filibuster to end government shutdown - CBS News - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- NY Republicans make another bid to stop Hochul, Dems from moving local elections - New York Post - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- The One Thing Republicans Will Deny Trump: Ending the Filibuster - New York Magazine - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Trump urges Republicans to abolish the filibuster to end shutdown - CNN - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Trump tells Senate Republicans to get rid of the filibuster to end government shutdown - OregonLive.com - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Trump Calls on Republicans to End Filibuster in Shutdown Fight - The New York Times - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Article | Republicans expected to embrace Trumps surgeon pick - POLITICO Pro - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Democrats frustrated, Republicans hopeful, but Americans overall critical of parties - WJAR - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- Senator Kim Acts to Save SNAP as Republicans Allow Program to Run Out of Money and Send Shutdown into November - Insider NJ - October 31st, 2025 [October 31st, 2025]
- [2025-10-29] Crapo: Republicans Stand Ready to Work on Meaningful Health Care Reform - Senate Committee on Finance (.gov) - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- Republicans are growing tired of Marjorie Taylor Greenes shutdown attacks - Politico - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans deal Trump a rare rebuke on trade with vote against Brazil tariffs - NPR - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans Block Democratic Effort to Fund SNAP During the Shutdown - NOTUS News of the United States - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- Blue states blame Republicans for looming SNAP shutoff on government websites - Politico - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- The Republicans thwarting the White Houses redistricting hopes - Politico - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- Cornyn Blasts Jack Smith for Targeting Republicans as Part of Arctic Frost - Senator Cornyn (.gov) - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- New Navigator Polling Confirms Americans Blame Trump and Republicans for Their Health Care Shutdown And They Want Them to Fix It - Protect Our Care - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene: Republicans know they cant win in the hearts and minds of the American voters, so they want to rig the system, and we are... - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- Republicans dub Fetterman 'voice of reason' after he accuses his own party of 'playing chicken' - Fox News - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- Maryland House Republicans call for firing of DHS secretary over foster care violations - CBS News - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]