Former Republican lashes out at 'thug' Trump in no-holds-barred attack

A former Republican lawmaker said Monday Donald Trump’s return to the White House is not a fait accompli for one simple reason: he’s a “thug.”

“He is the mob boss of the Republican family, who makes Don Corleone look like a Boy Scout leader,” writes former Illinois Lt. Gov. Bob Kustra for the Herald Sun. “He makes ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ look like an innocent bystander.”

Kustra’s vicious takedown of Trump — and the mainstream media he blames for normalizing Trump’s “thuggery” — arrived one day before the former president faces off against former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley in the New Hampshire primary.

The Illinois Republican warns readers not to discount Haley as a Republican presidential contender on the basis of media coverage that, he argues, belittles the impact of his words.

“He represents the antithesis of civility and the rule of law in a democratic society," Kustra writes. “His is abnormal behavior for anyone who seeks to be president, and it cannot be ignored as ‘Trump being Trump.'"

Kustra believes conservative endorsements for Haley and DeSantis, as well as the Iowa returns, prove Trump’s own party is becoming disillusioned with his rhetoric.

"New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who enjoys a 63% approval rating, endorsed Haley and is blanketing the state urging support for her campaign,” Kustra writes. “Half of the primary voters in Iowa chose someone other than Trump."

ALSO READ: Marjorie Taylor Greene wants GOP leaders to coronate Trump — right now

And to put Trump’s victory in perspective, Kustra reminds readers of Republican presidential hopefuls Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum and Sen. Ted Cruz, all whom won Iowa before their campaigns fizzled out.

Kustra certainly doesn’t believe Trump’s defeat is a fait accompli either, which may explain the ink he spends detailing the scandals that outrage him the most, such as Trump’s “rot in hell” Christmas missive and the day-one dictator comment.

“Do we have any idea how much harm a dictator could do to our constitutional democracy in 24 hours?” Kustra asks. “Trump’s egregious behavior this time around is considerably more dangerous and predictive of strongman rule if he is elected.”

But Kustra’s closing message is one of hope in the form of an operatic truism.

“They say it ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings,” Kustra concludes. “I can already hear her, but she’s not loud enough yet to put Trump back in the White House.”