'Intensely frustrated' Trump is 'plotting revenge' on Republicans as social media bans keep him out of the spotlight: report

On Wednesday, Newsweek reported that although former President Donald Trump has been cut off from his once-commanding social media presence, he is still quietly "plotting revenge" on Republicans he believes are disloyal to him.

"The frustration and anger that followed his election loss is not visible on the surface, friends say," reported Bill Powell. "But, they add, the anger is still very much there. According to several Trump allies who spoke to Newsweek on background, the former president has spent much of his time at Mar-a-Lago plotting what to do — and what not to do — between now and the midterm elections in 2022."

"They say he has not decided whether to run again in 2024, and won't anytime soon, because his presence freezes the Presidential race for the GOP," continued the report. "They also say he has ruled out trying to start a social media or digital broadcasting company — widely rumored in 2020 — saying it would be too time consuming and too expensive to pull off. Even though Trump remains 'intensely frustrated' with the bans on him on Facebook and Twitter, the idea of starting some sort of competing presence 'was always mostly speculation; there wasn't much to it. It's too heavy a lift,' says a former senior campaign aide who requested anonymity to speak freely."

One thing Trump is plotting, however, is retribution for Republicans who didn't go to bat for him to spread the big lie about election fraud — and in particular Republicans who voted against him in impeachment, like Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

"His anger spreads far and wide within GOP precincts. Aides are trying to focus it on GOP elected officials who face re-election in 2022, and who are perceived as 'disloyal,'" said the report. "The Trump SuperPac has said one of its goals is to get rid of all 'RINOS' — Republicans in name only ... To Trump, 'RINOS' include other prominent senators, including Mitch McConnell, who also denounced the president though voted to acquit, and traditional free trade, strong defense Republicans like Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Mitt Romney of Utah. To Trump's dismay, none are up for re-election in 2022."

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