One might think that Virginia Republicans, who suffered greatly at the polls when Donald Trump was in the White House, would be eager to exit the ex-president’s orbit and build on the post-Trump success they won in the 2021 elections.
Not a chance.
In the wake of the FBI’s search of Trump’s Florida residence for government property [1] Trump might have illegally taken with him when his single term came to its shameful end, Virginia Republicans rallied to the MAGA banner.
Leading the way was Gov. Glenn Youngkin [2] (R). On his personal Twitter page, Youngkin said: “A stunning move by the DOJ and FBI. This same DOJ labeled parents in Loudoun County as terrorists and failed to enforce federal law to protect Justices in their homes. Selective, politically motivated actions have no place in our democracy.”
Youngkin’s tweet clearly demonstrates his point. The Post’s fact-checker, Glenn Kessler, gave the “terrorists” allegation Youngkin blithely repeats Four Pinocchios [3].
Youngkin’s decision to weigh in at all might surprise some — presumably, he’s got his eye on a 2024 presidential bid, so why would he give Trump a hand here?
Because it’s absolutely necessary for a modern, ambitious Republican officeholder — like Youngkin — to do so.
And so, too, with the GOP time servers in the commonwealth’s congressional delegation. Their ambitions might not exceed the next election, but the Republican members were no slouches when it came to making their respective obeisances to Trump on social media.