Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) says Republicans should âmove on from the cult of Donald Trump.â
NBCâs Chuck Todd argued the Republican party had no platform in 2020 âother than loyaltyâ to Trump. He asked Hogan what the platform is going to look like in 2024 and what he hopes it looks like.
âI think the party has a winning message. We just had a bad messenger, and I think weâve got to move on from the cult of Donald Trump and return to the basic principles that the party has always stood for,â Hogan replied.
Todd questioned Hogan about whether the Republican party can be successful without distancing itself from Trump.
âI donât think they can,â Hogan said.
Watch his remarks below:
Todd also asked the Maryland governor if he would have voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial.
âI think the argument was pretty convincingâŚIâm not in the Senate but I probably wouldâve voted with some of my colleagues that were on the losing side. So I was very proud of some of the folks who stood up and did the right thing,â Hogan said.
He continued, âItâs not always easy. In fact itâs sometimes really hard to go against your base⌠to do what you think is right for the country.â
Hogan predicted there is going to be a âreal battle for the soul of the Republican party.â
He explained he believes there are going to be some Republicans who âtry to fight for the party that we believe in.â
Hogan noted âthere are going to be folks that want to continue to head down this road of Donald Trump.â
Trump was acquitted by the Senate on Saturday, as IJR reported. The majority of senators voted to convict in a 57-43 vote, including seven Republicans, short of the 67 votes needed to convict.
