GOP rep says Republicans have ‘no other option’ than to back Trump | TheHill – The Hill

Republican Rep. Peter MeijerPeter MeijerSunday shows preview: Omicron surge continues; anniversary of Jan. 6 attack approaches West Virginia lawmaker slams GOP colleague over support for infrastructure law Trump endorses primary challenger to Peter Meijer in Michigan MORE (Mich.) on Sunday said the GOP has no other option than to back former President TrumpDonald TrumpOne in three Americans say violence against government sometimes justified: poll Seven most vulnerable governors facing reelection in 2022 Sunday shows preview: Omicron surge continues; anniversary of Jan. 6 attack approaches MORE, pointing to the actions of the Biden administration in its first year.

During an interview on NBCs Meet the Press, host Chuck ToddCharles (Chuck) David ToddModerna says booster increases antibody levels significantly against omicron Democratic governor: Biden needs to stop calling third dose a 'booster' Sunday shows - Manchin says he cannot back Biden spending plan MORE cited Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamMcConnell urges Thune to run for reelection amid retirement talk Democrats outraged after Manchin opposes Biden spending bill Manchin says he will not vote for Build Back Better: 'This is a no' MORE (R-S.C.), who following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol brieflybroke from Trump during a speech on the Senate floor, saying, Enough is enough.

In the words of Lindsey Graham, Enough is enough. I'm out of here, right? I'm done with this. The party is going to move on. Trump's gonna be left behind. Boy, did that not happen. Why do you think that didn't happen? Todd asked Meijer.

Meijer, who was one of 10 House Republicans who voted for Trumps second impeachment following the Capitol attack, said, There was no alternative. There was no other path.

He pointed to the partys pair of losses in the Georgia Senate runoff races and actions taken by President BidenJoe BidenKentucky governor declares state of emergency after powerful storm Seven most vulnerable governors facing reelection in 2022 At least 20 states to increase minimum wage starting Saturday MOREduring his first year in office.

"Given how President Biden, when he was elected into office, you know, said he would be moderate and look for bipartisan solutions. But then after, and, frankly, I blame the former president for this, after we lost the two Senate seats in Georgia and the Senate flipped, it became an exercise in trying to be an LBJ- or FDR-style presidency and enact transformational change in the absence of any compelling mandate from the American people to do so," Meijer said.

"So that gave the rallying signal. That created a very steep divide. And at the end of the day, theres no other option right now in the Republican Party," he added.

WATCH: After January 6th, Republicans like Lindsey Graham said enough is enough when it came to Trump. So why are Republicans still backing the former president?@RepMeijer: At the end of the day, there's no other option right now in the Republican Party. pic.twitter.com/OnUazUWu6d

Pressed by Todd on why Republicans cant seem to kick their Trump habit and why it is not the responsibility of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthy Rep. Mike Turner to replace Nunes in top House Intel spot Each state's population center, visualized Juan Williams: McCarthy's inaction is a disgrace MORE (R-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellEleven interesting races to watch in 2022 The 9 politicians who had the most impact in 2021 The top political books of 2021 MORE (R-Ky.), Meijer cited the stark polarization between the two parties.

We have a two-party system. And in the best-case scenario, each party challenges the other to do better, to be better, to have a scenario where iron sharpens iron, Meijer said.

Instead, if you have one party plumbing to the depths and the other just use that excuse to go further, to go more to an extreme, to go more away from any sort of governing consensus and towards trying to enact whatever the will of the most extreme constituency they have is, you know, that is a recipe for both parties to drive further away from anything that resembles serving the American people as a whole, he added.

Trump endorsed Meijers challenger, former Housing and Urban Development official John Gibbs, in the midterm House election. Gibbs is mounting a primary race against Meijer.

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