Republicans criticize Trump at a half-empty Principles First summit

Current and former Republicans criticized President Donald Trump at the sixth annual Principles First summit held outside Washington, D.C., over the weekend. The event, estimated to draw around 750 attendees, was reportedly about "half empty," with no currently elected Republican officials in attendance. Former Republican lawmaker Joe Walsh called Trump "everything our founders feared" and described his MAGA movement as an "authoritarian-embracing cult" that threatens democracy. Retired Gen. Mark Hertling, former commander of U.S. military forces in Europe, noted that U.S. allies questioned whether American institutions "can ever be trusted again," stating the nation's institutions, alliances, credibility, and values have been compromised. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie cited a poll showing 25 percent of Republicans disapprove of Trump's job performance, predicting the summit's attendance will double by next February after the midterms.

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