Republican Says GOP Ditching Trump
Former Arizona Senator Jeff Flake — long known as one of Donald Trump’s fiercest Republican critics — is once again claiming the GOP is turning away from Trump’s leadership. In a new opinion piece for The Washington Post, Flake argued that the Republican Party is undergoing a “migration” toward what he calls “traditional conservatism.”
Flake, who left the Senate in 2019 after just one term, compared the shift to a herd “moving toward safer ground.” He said that as political winds change, “more will follow.” The former senator suggested that a growing number of Republicans are quietly distancing themselves from Trump’s populist America First agenda.
But the timing of Flake’s claims raised eyebrows across the political world — especially as President Trump continues to dominate GOP polls, lead in fundraising, and shape national policy debates heading into 2026.
Flake’s Argument: GOP Should “Reclaim” Old Conservatism
Flake pointed to a handful of examples — such as Sen. Rand Paul’s criticism of Trump’s tariffs and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s temporary disagreements — as signs of internal party shifts. He said even “small acts of dissent” could inspire others to follow.
According to Flake, Trump’s “populism and isolationism” may thrill rally crowds, but are “corrosive to governing.” He called for Republicans to “return” to free trade, global engagement, and the pre-Trump brand of conservatism that many voters rejected years ago.
Flake also claimed that recent off-year elections favor Democrats, arguing that Trump’s economic policies “misalign with conservative principles.”
RNC Fires Back: “We’re Not Taking Advice from a Failed Senator”
The Republican National Committee (RNC) quickly blasted Flake’s statements, reminding Americans that Flake endorsed Joe Biden and even worked for his administration as ambassador to Turkey.
“We’re not taking political advice from failed Senator Jeff Flake,” said RNC spokesperson Kiersten Pels. “He quit, took a job from Joe Biden — a president who could barely finish a sentence — and now wants to lecture Republicans about leadership.”
Pels added that the real political migration is happening in the opposite direction.
“Millions of voters are leaving the Democrat Party because of Biden’s broken economy, rising prices, and failed leadership,” she said. “They’re joining President Trump’s MAGA movement, which continues to deliver results for working Americans.”
Trump Still Dominates the Republican Base
Despite media attempts to portray internal fractures, polls show that Donald Trump remains the most popular and influential figure in the Republican Party. From small towns to swing states, voters continue to rally behind his America First agenda, emphasizing border security, economic strength, and common-sense leadership.
Meanwhile, Jeff Flake’s political relevance has steadily faded. After endorsing Joe Biden in 2020, then Kamala Harris in 2024, many conservatives view Flake as another establishment Republican who abandoned the GOP base for personal gain.
As one conservative commentator put it, “Flake didn’t leave the party — the party left him.”
Bottom Line: The GOP Is Trump’s Party Now
Despite efforts by former establishment figures to rewrite history, President Donald J. Trump’s movement continues to define the modern Republican Party.
While Jeff Flake writes op-eds, Trump packs stadiums, raises record donations, and leads the fight to restore American strength at home and abroad.
The real story isn’t about a migration away from Trump — it’s about a movement of millions toward America First leadership and away from Biden’s failing presidency.
