In a surprising turn of events, New Hampshire Gov Chris Sununu expressed his support for the former president Donald Trumpalthough he believes Trump played a role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.
What happened: Sununu got into a heated argument with ABC’s “This Week” co-host George Stephanopoulos. The governor defended his support for Trump, despite his previous condemnation of Trump’s actions that led to the Capitol insurrection, The Hill reported.
Sununu, who had previously supported the former UN ambassador Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential primaries, he was a vocal critic of Trump. However, he reiterated that his support is for the party’s ticket, not Trump himself.
When Stephanopoulos questioned Sununu’s support for a president who contributed to an insurrection, Sununu responded, “As do 51 percent of the United States, George.”
See also: Michael Cohen suggests the public will be surprised by bombshell evidence in Donald Trump’s Hush Money trial: ‘The headlines don’t necessarily tell the story’
Because matter: Sununu’s support for Trump comes as a surprise, given his previous criticism of the former president. In August 2023, Sununu warned in a New York Times op-ed that the GOP would lose if Trump was nominated. He had urged Republican candidates in the presidential primaries to distance themselves from Trump.
However, a January 2024 poll showed Trump leading in New Hampshire, with Haley trailing by 14 points. This may have influenced Sununu’s decision to support Trump.
In September 2023, Sununu criticized Trump’s influence on the GOP, blaming the party’s losses in recent elections on the former president. He had expressed his disappointment with the “Trump brand” during an appearance on ‘Meet the Press’.
Despite his previous criticisms, Sununu’s recent support for Trump highlights the complex dynamics within the Republican Party and the former president’s enduring influence.
Photo via Shutterstock
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