Former President Donald Trump started a public debate on Wednesday over whether his continued fixation on his "Big Lie" of election fraud could doom Republicans in the 2022 midterms and 2024 presidential election.
"If we don't solve the Presidential Election Fraud of 2020 (which we have thoroughly and conclusively documented), Republicans will not be voting in '22 or '24," Trump said in a statement. "It is the single most important thing for Republicans to do."
Many Georgia Republicans think Trump cost them the January runoff elections that gave Democrats control of the U.S. Senate by depressing GOP turnout with his lies about elections being rigged. At a July campaign rally, Trump himself suggested the theory was correct.
Georgia Republicans had a sense of déjà vu when Trump trashed Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) during a September rally.
The state's GOP lieutenant governor, Geoff Duncan, warned Trump's wounded ego could hurt the Republican Party.
"The statement below is another painful reminder that his pride is more important than his party," Duncan said, urging Republicans to get out the vote in upcoming elections.
The Lincoln Project, however, defended the former president the group was founded to defeat.
"Trump is right — Republicans should absolutely sit out the midterm elections," the group said.