Former President Trump criticized the wave of GOP House members who have decided to step down from their positions this year, causing uncertainty within the already narrow Republican majority.
In a recent post on Truth Social, former President Trump expressed his disappointment with “cowards and weaklings” and labeled their actions as a disgrace. He specifically referred to an article discussing the departure of Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.).
Trump criticized Gallagher and former Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) for retiring early from Congress, leaving their seats vacant. Gallagher will step down from Congress in mid-April, leaving his seat unfilled until next January, while Buck resigned last week and will be replaced in June.
The resignations of Gallagher and two other Republican representatives have reduced the GOP majority in the House to just one seat. This further complicates the already challenging process of passing party-line votes. Some even speculate that Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) might be named Speaker, as there are Republicans who are in revolt against Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Many Republicans, including Trump, have criticized Gallagher for his timing of resignation. They argue that he strategically resigned to take advantage of Wisconsin law and avoid a special election, leaving his seat vacant until January instead of having it filled in a few months.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has gone so far as to call for the expulsion of Gallagher from the House as a form of punishment. However, it is important to note that this action would have no real impact and does not seem to have garnered much support from others.
The upcoming vacancy to be filled is that of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), which is scheduled for the end of April. This leaves a time frame of approximately three weeks with a one-seat margin.
Gallagher attributed his departure to the dysfunction within the GOP.
In a February interview, Gallagher expressed his belief that Congress should not be a lifelong career. This sentiment was shared before his decision not to seek re-election and prior to his subsequent announcement of an early resignation.
According to him, the dysfunctionality of the institution can be attributed to the presence of numerous lifers and careerists. He believes that the Framers intended for individuals to serve for a limited period of time before returning to private life when they created the Constitution and established the country.
