Never Trump movement

A 2020 book review in National Review magazine (written by Dan McLaughlin)

listed as motivators of conservative opponents Trump's

• character
• a "long record of betraying everyone who trusted him";
• "his rhetoric that legitimated many of the worst false things that conservatism’s critics had said for years;
• lack of qualifications or knowledge;
• a lack of any record of supporting conservative ideas or causes. {{cite journal|last1= McLaughlin |first1=Dan |title= Who were the Never Trumpers and what motivated them.| date= 23 July 2020 |journal=National Review |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2020/08/10/who-were-the-never-trumpers-and-what-motivated-them/

|access-date=3 March 2025}}

As of late 2024 another list (written by Ashley Pratte Oates) of what turned (some) conservatives against Trump included:

{{blockquote| his convictions on 34 felony counts and overwhelming evidence that he incited violence against the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and illegally retained classified documents; his racist, sexist and divisive rhetoric; his cozying up to dictators; his attacks on our Constitution, which he has called for terminating when it didn’t suit him.{{cite news |title =The Death of Never Trump Republicans |first=Ashley Pratte |last=Oates |url= https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2024-11-06/the-death-of-never-trump-republicans |work=U.S. New and World Report |date=6 November 2024 |access-date=2 March 2025}}}}

Besides Trump's election victories, setbacks for his opponents have included the grassroots Republican support for the January 6, 2021 insurrectionists and Nikki Haley's withdrawal from the presidential campaign in early 2024.{{cite journal|title='Why do they bend their knee?' 6 Never-Trumpers look back at what went wrong |

date=13 March 2024 |journal=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/13/never-trumpers-gop-2024-elections-00146726 |access-date=1 March 2024}}

Trump entered the Republican primaries on June 16, 2015, at a time when governors Jeb Bush and Scott Walker and Senator Marco Rubio were viewed as early frontrunners.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-gop-trump-20150615-story.html|title=Donald Trump enters race, and GOP wonders: Presidency or reality TV?|last1=Hennessey|first1=Kathleen|date=June 16, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604014416/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-gop-trump-20150615-story.html|archive-date=June 4, 2016|url-status=live}} Trump was considered a longshot to win the nomination, but his large media profile gave him a chance to spread his message and appear in the Republican debates.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/17/us/politics/donald-trump-runs-for-president-this-time-for-real-he-says.html|title=Donald Trump, Pushing Someone Rich, Offers Himself|last1=Burns|first1=Alexander|date=June 16, 2015|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416092920/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/17/us/politics/donald-trump-runs-for-president-this-time-for-real-he-says.html|archive-date=April 16, 2016|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/trump-pundits-wrong-predictions-222789|title=The 9 worst predictions about Trump's rise to the top|last=Gass|first=Nick|date=May 4, 2016|access-date=May 15, 2016|work=Politico|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512140727/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/trump-pundits-wrong-predictions-222789|archive-date=May 12, 2016|url-status=live}} By the end of 2015, Trump was leading the Republican field in national polls.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/poll-trump-new-high-216741|title=Trump hits a new high in national poll|last1=Gass|first1=Nick|date=December 14, 2015|access-date=May 15, 2016|work=Politico|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526104230/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/poll-trump-new-high-216741|archive-date=May 26, 2016|url-status=live}} At this point, some Republicans, such as former Mitt Romney adviser Alex Castellanos, called for a "negative ad blitz" against Trump,{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/republicans-point-fingers-who-let-trump-get-this-far-218260|title=Republicans point fingers: Who let Trump get this far?|last1=Isenstadt|first1=Alex|date=January 26, 2016|access-date=May 15, 2016|work=Politico|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517023638/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/republicans-point-fingers-who-let-trump-get-this-far-218260|archive-date=May 17, 2016|url-status=live}} and another former Romney aide founded Our Principles PAC to attack Trump.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/top-former-romney-aide-launches-anti-trump-super-pac-218071|title=Top former Romney aide launches anti-Trump super PAC|last1=Isenstadt|first1=Alex|date=May 21, 2016|access-date=May 15, 2016|work=Politico|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517182240/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/top-former-romney-aide-launches-anti-trump-super-pac-218071|archive-date=May 17, 2016|url-status=live}}

After Trump won the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries, many Republican leaders called for the party to unite around a single leader to stop Trump's nomination.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-party.html|title=Inside the Republican Party's Desperate Mission to Stop Donald Trump|last1=Burns|first1=Alexander|date=February 27, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 15, 2016|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|last3=Martin|first3=Jonathan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517035457/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-party.html|archive-date=May 17, 2016|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} The Never Trump movement gained momentum following Trump's wins in the March 15, 2016, Super Tuesday primaries, including his victory over Rubio in Florida.{{cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-stop-trump-movement-got-new-life-in-ohio_n_56e8ad90e4b0b25c9183cf85 |title=The Stop Trump Movement Got New Life In Ohio |work=HuffPost |date=March 15, 2016 |access-date=March 28, 2021 |last1=Grim |first1=Ryan |last2=Velencia |first2=Janie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316134300/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-stop-trump-movement-got-new-life-in-ohio_us_56e8ad90e4b0b25c9183cf85 |archive-date=March 16, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2016/03/16/daily-202-the-stop-trump-movement-s-last-realistic-hope-is-now-a-contested-convention-in-cleveland/56e8c230981b92a22d90a6ae/ |title=The Daily 202: The Stop Trump movement's last realistic hope is now a contested convention in Cleveland |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 16, 2016 |access-date=March 17, 2016 |last=Hohmann |first=James |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317072929/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2016/03/16/daily-202-the-stop-trump-movement-s-last-realistic-hope-is-now-a-contested-convention-in-cleveland/56e8c230981b92a22d90a6ae/ |archive-date=March 17, 2016 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}

On March 17, 2016, anti-Trump conservatives met at the Army and Navy Club in Washington, D.C., to discuss strategies for preventing Trump from securing the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in July. Among the strategies discussed were a "unity ticket",{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/03/erick-erickson-anti-trump-gop-unity-ticket-220933 |title=Conservatives call for 'unity ticket' to stop Trump |work=Politico |date=March 17, 2016 |access-date=March 28, 2021 |last1=Goldmacher |first1=Shane |last2=Glueck |first2=Katie |last3=McCaskill |first3=Nolan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317194139/http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/03/erick-erickson-anti-trump-gop-unity-ticket-220933 |archive-date=March 17, 2016 |url-status=live }} a possible third-party candidate and a contested convention, especially if Trump did not gain the 1,237 delegates necessary to secure the nomination.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/17/gop-operatives-conservative-leaders-meet-to-thwart-trump/ |title=GOP operatives, conservative leaders meet to thwart Trump |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 17, 2017 |access-date=March 17, 2016 |last=Costa |first=Robert |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317130838/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/17/gop-operatives-conservative-leaders-meet-to-thwart-trump/ |archive-date=March 17, 2016 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}

The meeting was organized by Erick Erickson, Bill Wichterman and Bob Fischer. Around two dozen people attended.{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/anti-trump-forces-contemplate-the-end-220953 |title=Anti-Trump forces contemplate the end |work=Politico |date=March 18, 2016 |access-date=March 18, 2016 |last=Isenstadt |first=Alex |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318105546/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/anti-trump-forces-contemplate-the-end-220953 |archive-date=March 18, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/top-conservatives-gather-to-plot-third-party-run-against-trump-220786 |title=Top conservatives gather to plot third-party run against Trump |work=Politico |date=March 15, 2016 |access-date=March 17, 2016 |last=Goldmacher |first=Shane |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317003901/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/top-conservatives-gather-to-plot-third-party-run-against-trump-220786 |archive-date=March 17, 2016 |url-status=live }} Consensus was reached that Trump's nomination could be prevented and that efforts would be made to seek a unity ticket, possibly comprising Cruz and Ohio governor John Kasich.

The candidates did not unite and Trump continued to win primaries. After Senator Ted Cruz dropped out of the race following Trump's primary victory in Indiana on May 3, 2016, Trump became the presumptive nominee while internal opposition to Trump remained as the process pivoted towards a general election.{{cite news|last1=Bradner|first1=Eric|title=5 takeaways from the Indiana primary|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/03/politics/primary-results-takeaways/|work=CNN|date=May 4, 2016|access-date=March 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505043651/http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/03/politics/primary-results-takeaways/index.html|archive-date=May 5, 2016|url-status=live}}

Following unsuccessful attempts by some delegates at the Republican National Convention to block his nomination, Trump became the Republican Party's 2016 nominee for president on July 18, 2016. Some members of the Never Trump movement endorsed other candidates in the general election, such as Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson, independent conservative Evan McMullin and American Solidarity Party nominee Mike Maturen.{{cite web |url=http://archive.knoxnews.com/entertainment/columnists/terry-mattingly/american-solidarity-party-seeks-to-spread-its-ideas-change-360a1450-ed0f-2288-e053-0100007f0e2f-396294701.html |title=American Solidarity Party seeks to spread its ideas, change |last=Mattingly |first=Terry |publisher=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=October 7, 2005 |website=Go Knoxville |access-date=October 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019151456/http://archive.knoxnews.com/entertainment/columnists/terry-mattingly/american-solidarity-party-seeks-to-spread-its-ideas-change-360a1450-ed0f-2288-e053-0100007f0e2f-396294701.html |archive-date=October 19, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/441061/bob-dylan-never-trump-american-solidarity-party-mark-maturen-2016 |title=Dylan, Never Trump, and Mike Maturen |last=Lawler |first=Peter Augustine |date=October 13, 2005 |website=National Review |access-date=October 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018124758/http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/441061/bob-dylan-never-trump-american-solidarity-party-mark-maturen-2016 |archive-date=October 18, 2016 |url-status=live }}

Our Principles PAC and Club for Growth were involved in trying to prevent Trump's nomination. Our Principles PAC spent more than $13 million on advertising attacking Trump.{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/16/stop-trump-campaign-plans-to-push-forward-in-hopes-of-denying-him-the-nomination/ |title=Stop Trump campaign plans to push forward in hopes of denying him the nomination |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 16, 2016 |access-date=March 17, 2016 |last=Gold |first=Matea |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316181525/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/16/stop-trump-campaign-plans-to-push-forward-in-hopes-of-denying-him-the-nomination/ |archive-date=March 16, 2016 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}{{cite web | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/stop-trump-movement-limps-forward-n541046 | title=The Stop Trump Movement Limps Forward | work=NBC News | date=March 17, 2016 | access-date=March 17, 2016 | last=Caldwell | first=Leigh Ann | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318080004/http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/stop-trump-movement-limps-forward-n541046 | archive-date=March 18, 2016 | url-status=live }} The Club for Growth spent $11 million in an effort to prevent Trump from becoming the Republican Party's nominee.{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Eliana|title=#NeverTrump Club for Growth Plots Path Forward|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/435876/nevertrump-club-growth-focuses-congressional-races|access-date=June 20, 2016|work=National Review|date=May 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620093031/http://www.nationalreview.com/article/435876/nevertrump-club-growth-focuses-congressional-races|archive-date=June 20, 2016|url-status=live}}

In June 2016, activists Eric O'Keefe and Dane Waters formed a group called Delegates Unbound, which CNN described as "an effort to convince delegates that they have the authority and the ability to vote for whomever they want".{{cite news|last1=LoBianco|first1=Tom|last2=Kopan|first2=Tal|title=RNC delegates launch 'Anybody but Trump' drive|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/17/politics/delegate-unbinding-effort-organized/|access-date=March 28, 2021|work=CNN|date=June 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618133624/https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/17/politics/delegate-unbinding-effort-organized|archive-date=June 18, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Bash|first1=Dana|last2=Raju|first2=Manu|title=How the GOP could cut ties with Donald Trump|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/16/politics/donald-trump-republican-anxiety/|access-date=June 18, 2016|work=CNN|date=June 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617221422/http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/16/politics/donald-trump-republican-anxiety/index.html|archive-date=June 17, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=O'Keefe|first1=Eric|last2=Rivkin|first2=David|title=Release the GOP Delegates|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/release-the-gop-delegates-1465769777|access-date=June 18, 2016|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=June 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618031528/http://www.wsj.com/articles/release-the-gop-delegates-1465769777|archive-date=June 18, 2016|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}} The effort involved the publication of a book titled Unbound: The Conscience of a Republican Delegate by Republican delegates Curly Haugland and Sean Parnell. The book argues that "delegates are not bound to vote for any particular candidate based on primary and caucus results, state party rules, or even state law".{{cite web|title=Delegates Unbound|url=http://www.delegatesunbound.com/|access-date=June 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620204911/http://www.delegatesunbound.com/|archive-date=June 20, 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=Livengood|first1=Chad|title=Two Mich. GOP delegates join new plot to dump Trump|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/17/two-mich-gop-delegates-join-new-plot-dump-trump/86067656/|access-date=March 28, 2021|work=The Detroit News|date=June 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619143939/http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/17/two-mich-gop-delegates-join-new-plot-dump-trump/86067656/|archive-date=June 19, 2016|url-status=live}}

Republican delegates Kendal Unruh and Steve Lonegan led an effort among fellow Republican delegates to change the convention rules "to include a 'conscience clause' that would allow delegates bound to Trump to vote against him, even on the first ballot at the July convention".{{cite news|last=Jaffe|first=Alexandra|title=Campaign to Dump Trump at Republican Convention Emerges|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/campaign-dump-trump-republican-convention-emerges-n594766|access-date=June 18, 2016|work=NBC News|date=June 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617231059/http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/campaign-dump-trump-republican-convention-emerges-n594766|archive-date=June 17, 2016|url-status=live}} Unruh described the effort as "an 'Anybody but Trump' movement". Unruh's efforts started with a conference call on June 16 "with at least 30 delegates from 15 states".{{cite news|last1=O'Keefe|first1=Ed|title=Dozens of GOP delegates launch new push to halt Donald Trump|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/dozens-of-gop-delegates-launch-new-push-to-halt-donald-trump/2016/06/17/e8dcf74e-3491-11e6-8758-d58e76e11b12_story.html|access-date=June 18, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617190847/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/dozens-of-gop-delegates-launch-new-push-to-halt-donald-trump/2016/06/17/e8dcf74e-3491-11e6-8758-d58e76e11b12_story.html|archive-date=June 17, 2016|url-status=live|url-access=limited}} Regional coordinators for the effort were recruited in Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, Washington and other states. By June 19, hundreds of delegates to the Republican National Convention calling themselves Free the Delegates had begun raising funds and recruiting members in support of an effort to change party convention rules to free delegates to vote however they want, instead of according to the results of state caucuses and primaries.{{cite news|last1=O'Keefe|first1=Ed|title=Anti-Trump delegates raising money for staff and a legal defense fund|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/06/19/anti-trump-delegates-raising-money-for-staff-and-a-legal-defense-fund/|access-date=June 20, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209070546/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/06/19/anti-trump-delegates-raising-money-for-staff-and-a-legal-defense-fund/|archive-date=February 9, 2021|url-status=live}} Unruh, a member of the convention's Rules Committee and one of the group's founders, planned to propose adding the "conscience clause" to the convention's rules, effectively unhinging pledged delegates. She needed 56 other supporters from the 112-member panel, which determines precisely how Republicans select their nominee in Cleveland. The Rules Committee instead voted 87–12 to adopt rules requiring delegates to vote based on their states' primary and caucus results.{{cite web|first=Scott|last=Detrow|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/07/15/486153506/never-trump-is-nevermore-anti-trump-forces-fail-to-force-rnc-floor-fight|title='Never Trump Is Nevermore': Anti-Trump Forces Fail To Force RNC Floor Fight|work=NPR|date=July 15, 2016|access-date=March 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716130641/http://www.npr.org/2016/07/15/486153506/never-trump-is-nevermore-anti-trump-forces-fail-to-force-rnc-floor-fight|archive-date=July 16, 2016|url-status=live}}

File:Lindsey Graham, Official Portrait 2006.jpg, a Republican and 2016 presidential candidate, was an outspoken critic of fellow Republican Donald Trump's 2016 candidacy and vocalized his opposition to Trump as a candidate, publicly questioning Trump's conservatism and identity as a Republican.{{cite web |last1=Kopan |first1=Tal |title=Lindsey Graham: 'Tell Donald Trump to go to hell' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/08/politics/lindsey-graham-donald-trump-go-to-hell-ted-cruz/ |date=December 8, 2015 |website=CNN |access-date=March 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126224607/https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/08/politics/lindsey-graham-donald-trump-go-to-hell-ted-cruz/index.html |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/video/lindsey-graham-not-supporting-mr-trump-or-hillary-clinton-700695107650|title=Lindsey Graham: 'Not Supporting Mr. Trump' or Hillary Clinton|date=June 7, 2016|work=NBC News|access-date=March 28, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=April 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407152610/https://www.nbcnews.com/video/lindsey-graham-not-supporting-mr-trump-or-hillary-clinton-700695107650}} Over the course of the Trump presidency, however, Graham became one of Trump's supporters in the Senate.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/02/how-lindsey-graham-became-donald-trumps-greatest-ally-senate/|title=How Lindsey Graham became Donald Trump's greatest ally in the Senate|first=JM|last=Rieger|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 2, 2018|access-date=March 28, 2021|url-access=limited|archive-date=November 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123080329/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/02/how-lindsey-graham-became-donald-trumps-greatest-ally-senate/|url-status=live}}]]

At a luncheon in February 2016 attended by Republican governors and donors, Karl Rove discussed the danger of Trump's securing the Republican nomination by July, and that it might be possible to stop him but there was not much time left.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-party.html |title=Inside the Republican Party's Desperate Mission to Stop Donald Trump |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 27, 2016 |access-date=March 28, 2021 |last1=Burns |first1=Alexander |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |last3=Martin |first3=Jonathan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316165653/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-party.html |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/karl-rove-donald-trump-wsj-219764 |title=Rove: Time's running out to stop Trump |work=Politico |date=February 25, 2016 |access-date=March 18, 2016 |last=Collins |first=Eliza |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320220634/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/karl-rove-donald-trump-wsj-219764 |archive-date=March 20, 2016 |url-status=live }}

File:Mitt Romney by Gage Skidmore 8.jpg was a major leader among anti-Trump Republicans until Trump won the 2016 election. ]]

Early in March 2016, Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, directed some of his advisors to look at ways to stop Trump from obtaining the nomination at the Republican National Convention (RNC). Romney also gave a major speech urging voters to vote for the Republican candidate most likely to prevent Trump from acquiring delegates in state primaries.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/03/politics/mitt-romney-stop-trump-at-convention/ |title=First on CNN: Team Romney explores blocking Trump at RNC |work=CNN |date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=March 18, 2016 |author1=Gangel, Jamie |author2=Bradner, Eric |name-list-style=amp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315112852/http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/03/politics/mitt-romney-stop-trump-at-convention |archive-date=March 15, 2016 |url-status=live }} A few weeks later, Romney announced that he would vote for Ted Cruz in the Utah GOP caucuses. On his Facebook page, he posted: "Today, there is a contest between Trumpism and Republicanism. Through the calculated statements of its leader, Trumpism has become associated with racism, misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia, vulgarity and, most recently, threats and violence. I am repulsed by each and every one of these".{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/03/18/471008484/mitt-romney-will-vote-for-ted-cruz-in-hopes-of-stopping-trump |title=Mitt Romney Will Vote For Ted Cruz In Hopes Of Stopping Trump |work=NPR |date=March 18, 2016 |access-date=March 18, 2016 |author=Taylor, Jessica |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319012231/http://www.npr.org/2016/03/18/471008484/mitt-romney-will-vote-for-ted-cruz-in-hopes-of-stopping-trump |archive-date=March 19, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-romney-vote-cruz-20160318-story.html |title=Aiming to stop Trump, Romney says he'll vote for Cruz in Utah caucuses |work=Chicago Tribune |date=March 18, 2016 |access-date=March 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319232929/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-romney-vote-cruz-20160318-story.html |archive-date=March 19, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/romney-i-will-vote-for-senator-ted-cruz/article/2001652 |title=Romney: 'I Will Vote for Senator Ted Cruz' |magazine=The Weekly Standard |date=March 18, 2016 |access-date=March 18, 2016 |author=Halper, Daniel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320152331/http://www.weeklystandard.com/romney-i-will-vote-for-senator-ted-cruz/article/2001652 |archive-date=March 20, 2016 |url-status=dead }} Nevertheless, Romney said early on he would "support the Republican nominee", though he did not "think that's going to be Donald Trump".{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/mitt-romney-surveys-the-2016-field/408316/ |title=Mitt Romney Surveys the 2016 Field |magazine=The Atlantic |date=September 30, 2015 |access-date=August 10, 2016 |author=Ball, Molly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810033021/http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/mitt-romney-surveys-the-2016-field/408316/ |archive-date=August 10, 2016 |url-status=live }}

Senator Lindsey Graham shifted from opposing both Ted Cruz and Trump to eventually supporting Cruz as a better alternative to Trump. Commenting about Trump, Graham said: "I don't think he's a Republican, I don't think he's a conservative, I think his campaign's built on xenophobia, race-baiting and religious bigotry. I think he'd be a disaster for our party and as Senator Cruz would not be my first choice, I think he is a Republican conservative who I could support".{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/03/02/lindsey-graham-who-joked-about-killing-ted-cruz-now-thinks-cruz-is-the-only-hope-to-stop-trump/ |title=Why even Lindsey Graham might be a Ted Cruz voter now |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 2, 2016 |access-date=March 19, 2016 |author=Phillips, Amber |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303095027/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/03/02/lindsey-graham-who-joked-about-killing-ted-cruz-now-thinks-cruz-is-the-only-hope-to-stop-trump/ |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=live }} After Trump became the presumptive nominee in May, Graham announced he would not be supporting Trump in the general election, stating: "[I] cannot, in good conscience, support Donald Trump because I do not believe he is a reliable Republican conservative nor has he displayed the judgment and temperament to serve as Commander in Chief".{{cite news|last1=Bash|first1=Dana|title=Lindsey Graham won't vote for Trump or Clinton in 2016|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/06/politics/lindsey-graham-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-not-vote/index.html|access-date=May 6, 2016|work=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507080412/http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/06/politics/lindsey-graham-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-not-vote/index.html|archive-date=May 7, 2016|url-status=live}} Over the course of the Trump presidency, however, Graham became one of Trump's most ardent supporters in the Senate.{{Cite news |last=Leibovich |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Leibovich |date=February 25, 2019 |title=How Lindsey Graham Went From Trump Skeptic to Trump Sidekick |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/25/magazine/lindsey-graham-what-happened-trump.html |access-date=October 29, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}

In October 2016, some individuals made third-party vote trading mobile applications and websites to help stop Trump. For example, a Californian who supported Clinton would instead vote for Jill Stein in exchange for a Stein supporter in a swing state voting for Clinton.[https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/3/13478042/third-party-clinton-vote-trading Third-party voters are "trading votes" with Clinton voters to defeat Trump] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707212945/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/3/13478042/third-party-clinton-vote-trading |date=July 7, 2017 }} Vox November 3, 2016 The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the 2007 case Porter v. Bowen established vote trading as a First Amendment right.{{Cite journal |last=Finkelstein |first=Eric |date=2008-01-01 |title=Swap Meet: Introducing the Framers to Nader's Traders through Porter v. Bowen |url=https://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/clr/vol93/iss6/12/ |journal=Cornell Law Review |volume=93 |issue=6 |pages=1211 |issn=0010-8847}}{{Cite magazine |last=Stirland |first=Sarah Lai |title=Internet Vote-Swapping Legal, Says 9th Circuit |url=https://www.wired.com/2007/08/internet-vote-s/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}

Republican former presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush both refused to support Trump in the general election, with the elder Bush reportedly voting for Trump's rival Hillary Clinton.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/20/politics/george-hw-bush-hillary-clinton/ |title=Sources: Bush 41 says he will vote for Clinton |last1=Gangel |first1=Jamie |last2=Bradner |first2=Eric |date=September 21, 2016 |work=CNN |access-date=November 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114040830/http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/20/politics/george-hw-bush-hillary-clinton/ |archive-date=November 14, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/4563361/george-w-bush-donald-trump-clinton/ |title=The Other Reason George W. Bush Couldn't Bring Himself to Vote for Donald Trump |last=Gibbs |first=Nancy |date=November 8, 2016 |magazine=Time |access-date=November 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111061533/http://time.com/4563361/george-w-bush-donald-trump-clinton/5/ |archive-date=November 11, 2016 |url-status=live }}

Reactions to the Stop Trump movement have been mixed, with other prominent Republicans making statements in support of preventing Trump from receiving the Republican nomination. Following his withdrawal as a candidate for president, Senator Marco Rubio expressed hope that Trump's nomination could be stopped, adding that his nomination "would fracture the party and be damaging to the conservative movement".{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/17/politics/donald-trump-hill-republicans-conservatives/index.html | title=Conservatives pin hopes on convention fight to stop Donald Trump | work=CNN | date=March 17, 2017 | access-date=March 17, 2016 | author1=Borger, Gloria | author2=LoBianco, Tom | name-list-style=amp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317130816/http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/17/politics/donald-trump-hill-republicans-conservatives/index.html | archive-date=March 17, 2016 | url-status=live }}

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus dismissed the potential impact of Mitt Romney's efforts to block Trump at the convention. Sam Clovis, a national co-chairman for Trump's campaign, said he would leave the Republican Party if it "comes into that convention and jimmies with the rules and takes away the will of the people".{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/18/politics/donald-trump-republican-conservatives/index.html | title=Is the GOP's stop Trump campaign too late? | work=CNN | date=March 18, 2016 | access-date=March 18, 2016 | author=Collinson, Stephen | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318101517/http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/18/politics/donald-trump-republican-conservatives/index.html | archive-date=March 18, 2016 | url-status=live }} Ned Ryun, founder of conservative group American Majority, expressed concern about a contested convention, should Trump have the most delegates, but fail to reach the 1,237 necessary to be assured the nomination. Ryun speculated that a contested convention would result in Trump running as a third-party candidate, making it unlikely that Republicans would win the presidency in the November general election, adding that it would "blow up the party, at least in the short term".{{cite web | url=http://www.ibtimes.com/brokered-convention-paul-ryan-could-kill-republican-party-if-nominated-president-over-2337833 | title=Brokered Convention: Paul Ryan Could Kill The Republican Party If Nominated For President Over Trump | work=International Business Times | date=March 16, 2016 | access-date=March 19, 2016 | author=Mindock, Clark | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319120923/http://www.ibtimes.com/brokered-convention-paul-ryan-could-kill-republican-party-if-nominated-president-over-2337833 | archive-date=March 19, 2016 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/anti-trump-forces-contemplate-the-end-220953 | title=Anti-Trump forces contemplate the end | work=Politico | date=March 18, 2016 | access-date=March 19, 2016 | author=Isenstadt, Alex | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319003730/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/anti-trump-forces-contemplate-the-end-220953 | archive-date=March 19, 2016 | url-status=live }}

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie expressed his opinion that efforts to stop Trump would ultimately fail. Relatively shortly after his endorsement of Trump, he criticized the people who condemned his endorsement, including the Stop Trump movement, saying his critics had yet to support any of the remaining Republican candidates. "I think if you're a public figure, you have the obligation to speak out, and be 'for' something, not just 'against' something. ... When those folks in the 'Stop Trump' movement actually decide to be for something, then people can make an evaluation ... if they want to be for one of the remaining candidates, do what I did: be for one of the remaining candidates."{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/03/christie_explains_why_gops_stop_trump_movement_wil.html|title=Christie: Republican 'Stop Trump' movement will fail|website=The Star-Ledger|access-date=March 21, 2016|date=March 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308105720/http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/03/christie_explains_why_gops_stop_trump_movement_wil.html|archive-date=March 8, 2016|url-status=live}}

Trump said if he were deprived of the nomination because of falling just short of the 1,237 delegates required, there could be "problems like you've never seen before. I think bad things would happen" and "I think you'd have riots".{{cite news | url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a7279662a21c450fafd494ffc7c2fad0/math-and-momentum-point-trump-clinton-nominations | title=Trump: Time to rally around me _ or expect voter riots | agency=Associated Press | date=March 16, 2016 | access-date=March 17, 2016 | author1=Pace, Julie | author2=Peoples, Steve | name-list-style=amp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318190341/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a7279662a21c450fafd494ffc7c2fad0/math-and-momentum-point-trump-clinton-nominations | archive-date=March 18, 2016 | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/03/16/donald-trump-just-threatened-more-violence-only-this-time-its-directed-at-the-gop/ | title=Donald Trump just threatened more violence. Only this time, it's directed at the GOP. | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=March 16, 2016 | access-date=March 19, 2016 | author=Sargent, Greg | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318210620/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/03/16/donald-trump-just-threatened-more-violence-only-this-time-its-directed-at-the-gop/ | archive-date=March 18, 2016 | url-status=live }} Trump made prior comments suggesting that he might run as an independent candidate if he were not to get the Republican nomination.

Roger Stone, a political consultant who served as an advisor for Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and who remains a "confidant" to Trump,Philip Rucker & Robert Costa, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/while-the-gop-worries-about-convention-chaos-trump-pushes-for-showbiz-feel/2016/04/17/482cc914-0322-11e6-9d36-33d198ea26c5_story.html While the GOP worries about convention chaos, Trump pushes for 'showbiz' feel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903183140/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/while-the-gop-worries-about-convention-chaos-trump-pushes-for-showbiz-feel/2016/04/17/482cc914-0322-11e6-9d36-33d198ea26c5_story.html |date=September 3, 2016 }}, The Washington Post (April 17, 2016).{{cite news|first=Jenna|last=Johnson|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/23/again-nothing-is-off-limits-for-donald-trump-including-spouses/|title=Again: Nothing is off limits for Donald Trump, including spouses|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 23, 2016|access-date=May 6, 2016|archive-date=July 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712092826/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/23/again-nothing-is-off-limits-for-donald-trump-including-spouses/|url-status=dead}} put together a group called Stop the Steal and threatened "days of rage" if Republican Party leaders tried to deny the nomination to Trump at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.Jim DeFede, [http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/04/17/roger-stone-inside-the-world-of-a-political-hitman/ Roger Stone: Inside the World of a Political Hitman] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822152734/http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/04/17/roger-stone-inside-the-world-of-a-political-hitman/ |date=August 22, 2016 }}, CBS Miami (April 17, 2016).[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/while-the-gop-worries-about-convention-chaos-trump-pushes-for-showbiz-feel/2016/04/17/482cc914-0322-11e6-9d36-33d198ea26c5_story.html While the GOP worries about convention chaos, Trump pushes for 'showbiz' feel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903183140/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/while-the-gop-worries-about-convention-chaos-trump-pushes-for-showbiz-feel/2016/04/17/482cc914-0322-11e6-9d36-33d198ea26c5_story.html |date=September 3, 2016 }}, The Washington Post (April 17, 2016). Stone also threatened to disclose to the public the hotel room numbers of delegates who opposed Trump.

{{See also|List of Republicans who opposed the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign}}

Trump was widely described as the presumptive Republican nominee after the May{{nbsp}}3 Indiana primary, notwithstanding the continued opposition of groups such as Our Principles PAC.{{cite news|last1=Swan|first1=Jonathan|last2=Easley|first2=Jonathan|title=Never Trump groups insist they will keep fighting|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/278613-stop-trump-group-insists-it-will-keep-fighting/|access-date=May 15, 2016|work=The Hill|date=May 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507172909/http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/278613-stop-trump-group-insists-it-will-keep-fighting|archive-date=May 7, 2016|url-status=live}} Many Republican leaders endorsed Trump after he became the presumptive nominee, but other Republicans looked for ways to defeat him in the general election.{{cite news|last1=Rucker|first1=Philip|last2=Costa|first2=Robert|title=Inside the GOP effort to draft an independent candidate to derail Trump|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/inside-the-gop-effort-to-draft-an-independent-candidate-to-derail-trump/2016/05/14/1b04682e-1877-11e6-924d-838753295f9a_story.html|access-date=May 15, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518204802/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/inside-the-gop-effort-to-draft-an-independent-candidate-to-derail-trump/2016/05/14/1b04682e-1877-11e6-924d-838753295f9a_story.html|archive-date=May 18, 2016|url-status=live}} One potential strategy would involve an independent candidate gaining enough electoral votes to deny a majority to either of the major party candidates, sending the three presidential candidates with the most electoral votes to the House of Representatives under procedures established by the Twelfth Amendment.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/20/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-party.html|title=Republican Leaders Map a Strategy to Derail Donald Trump|date=March 20, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|first1=Alexander|last1=Burns|first2=Jonathan|last2=Martin|access-date=March 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223090719/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/20/us/politics/donald-trump-republican-party.html|archive-date=February 23, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/04/01/the-gop-s-nuclear-option-to-stop-donald-trump-a-third-party-candidate.html|title=The GOP's Nuclear Option to Stop Donald Trump: A Third-Party Candidate|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=April 2016|last1=Freedlander|first1=David|access-date=August 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808004312/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/04/01/the-gop-s-nuclear-option-to-stop-donald-trump-a-third-party-candidate.html|archive-date=August 8, 2016|url-status=live}}

Stop Trump members such as Mitt Romney, Erick Erickson, William Kristol, Mike Murphy, Stuart Stevens, and Rick Wilson pursued the possibility of an independent candidacy by a non-Trump Republican. Potential candidates included Senator Ben Sasse, Governor John Kasich, Senator Tom Coburn, Congressman Justin Amash, Senator Rand Paul, retired Marine Corps General James Mattis, lawyer Kelly A. Hyman, retired Army General Stanley McChrystal, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, businessman Mark Cuban and 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney.{{cite news|last1=Easley|first1=Jonathan|title=Libertarian looks for anti-Trump bump|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/279078-libertarian-looks-for-anti-trump-bump/|access-date=May 15, 2016|work=The Hill|date=May 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512050117/http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/279078-libertarian-looks-for-anti-trump-bump|archive-date=May 12, 2016|url-status=live}} However, many of these candidates rejected the possibility of an independent run, pointing to difficulties such as ballot access and the potential to help the Democratic candidate win the presidency. Gary Johnson's campaign in the Libertarian Party also attracted attention.{{cite news|url=http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/17/the-third-party-dilemma/|title=The Third Party Dilemma|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 17, 2016 |access-date=April 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330020221/http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/17/the-third-party-dilemma/|archive-date=March 30, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/03/us/politics/anti-donald-trump-republicans-call-for-a-third-party-option.html|title=nti-Trump Republicans Call for a Third-Party Option|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 2, 2016 |access-date=April 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416204438/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/03/us/politics/anti-donald-trump-republicans-call-for-a-third-party-option.html|archive-date=April 16, 2016|url-status=live |last1=Burns |first1=Alexander }}{{cite web |first=Nick |last=Gillespie |url=http://reason.com/blog/2016/01/06/exclusive-gary-johnson-running-for-presi |title=Exclusive: Gary Johnson Running For President, Call Trump's Plans "Just Whacked—Just Nuts!" – Hit & Run |website=Reason |date=January 6, 2016 |access-date=April 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416163209/http://reason.com/blog/2016/01/06/exclusive-gary-johnson-running-for-presi |archive-date=April 16, 2016 |url-status=live }}

William Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard, promoted National Review staff writer David A. French of Tennessee as a prospective candidate.{{cite web |last1=Epstein |first1=Reid J. |last2=O'Connor |first2=Patrick|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/david-french-proposed-conservative-alternative-to-trump-draws-tepid-response-1464826423 |title=David French, Proposed Conservative Alternative to Trump, Draws Tepid Response |date=June 2, 2016 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=December 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014071935/http://www.wsj.com/articles/david-french-proposed-conservative-alternative-to-trump-draws-tepid-response-1464826423 |archive-date=October 14, 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Halperin |first1=Mark |last2=Heilemann |first2=John|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-05-31/kristol-eyes-conservative-lawyer-for-independent-presidential-run |title=Kristol Eyes Conservative Lawyer David French for Independent Presidential Run |work=Bloomberg Politics |date=May 31, 2016 |access-date=December 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107172104/https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-05-31/kristol-eyes-conservative-lawyer-for-independent-presidential-run |archive-date=January 7, 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Ross |first=Janell|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/06/01/who-exactly-is-david-french-the-never-trump-white-knight-candidate/ |title=Who, exactly, is David French, the 'Never Trump' white knight candidate? |date=June 1, 2016 |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=December 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118043315/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/06/01/who-exactly-is-david-french-the-never-trump-white-knight-candidate/ |archive-date=January 18, 2017 |url-status=live }} However, French opted not to run.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/282294-david-french-im-not-running-for-president/|title=David French: 'I'm not running for president'|first=Cyra|last=Master|date=June 6, 2016|work=The Hill|access-date=August 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812055014/http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/282294-david-french-im-not-running-for-president|archive-date=August 12, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/david-french-trump-intimidation-223982|title=David French: Trump campaign tried to intimidate me|work=Politico|date=June 7, 2016 |access-date=August 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816215723/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/david-french-trump-intimidation-223982|archive-date=August 16, 2016|url-status=live}} On August 8, Evan McMullin, a conservative Republican, announced that he would mount an independent bid for president with support of the Never Trump movement.{{cite news |last=Gold |first=Matea |author-link=Matea Gold |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/08/08/new-super-pac-launching-to-support-evan-mcmullins-independent-white-house-bid/ |title=New super PAC launching to support Evan McMullin's independent White House bid |date=August 8, 2016 |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=December 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205211642/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/08/08/new-super-pac-launching-to-support-evan-mcmullins-independent-white-house-bid/ |archive-date=December 5, 2016 |url-status=live }} McMullin was backed by Better for America (a Never Trump group){{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/08/republican-evan-mcmullin-presidential-run-trump|title=Republican Evan McMullin to launch presidential run against Trump|first1=Sabrina Siddiqui Lauren|last1=Gambino|first2=Amber|last2=Jamieson|date=August 8, 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=August 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821015634/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/08/republican-evan-mcmullin-presidential-run-trump|archive-date=August 21, 2016|url-status=live}} and supported by former Americans Elect CEO Kahlil Byrd and Republican campaign finance lawyer Chris Ashby.

Some anti-Trump Republicans said they would vote for Hillary Clinton in the general election.{{cite news|last1=Borchers|first1=Callum|title=Some #NeverTrump types are now leaving the GOP and even backing Hillary Clinton|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/05/03/as-trump-win-becomes-evident-some-nevertrump-conservatives-bolt-the-gop/|access-date=May 15, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506035144/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/05/03/as-trump-win-becomes-evident-some-nevertrump-conservatives-bolt-the-gop/|archive-date=May 6, 2016|url-status=live}} In late May, Craig Snyder, a former Republican staffer, launched the Republicans for Hillary PAC, "aimed at convincing Republicans to choose Hillary Clinton over ... Donald Trump in November".{{cite magazine|last1=Charlotte|first1=Alter|title=Why This Republican Created a PAC to Help Elect Hillary Clinton|url=https://time.com/4360519/hillary-clinton-republican-pac-craig-snyder/|access-date=June 11, 2016|magazine=Time|date=June 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611031932/http://time.com/4360519/hillary-clinton-republican-pac-craig-snyder/|archive-date=June 11, 2016|url-status=live}} Grassroots efforts, like Republicans for Clinton in 2016, or R4C16, and Holding Our Noses For Hillary also joined the effort to defeat Trump.{{cite news | title = Republicans for Clinton join the fray | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2016/09/07/republicans-for-clinton-join-the-fray/ | date = September 7, 2016 | first = Jennifer | last = Rubin | newspaper = Washington Post | access-date = September 23, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160927092018/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2016/09/07/republicans-for-clinton-join-the-fray/ | archive-date = September 27, 2016 | url-status = live }}{{Cite news |last=Rubin |first=Jennifer |date=2021-12-02 |title=Opinion {{!}} Permission granted: Abandon Trump |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2016/08/29/permission-granted-abandon-trump/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US}}

On May 3, 2016, one of the biggest anti-Trump groups, the Never Trump PAC, circulated a petition to collect the signatures of conservatives opposed to voting for Trump in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite news|last1=Lim|first1=Kenneth|title='Never Trump' Stumped After Cruz Bows Out Tuesday And Kasich Wednesday|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/3064029/never-trump-stumped-after-cruz-bows-out-tuesday-and-kasich-wednesday/|access-date=May 7, 2016|work=Inquisitr|date=May 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602185941/http://www.inquisitr.com/3064029/never-trump-stumped-after-cruz-bows-out-tuesday-and-kasich-wednesday/|archive-date=June 2, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first1=Olivia|last1=Becker|first2=Sarah|last2=Mimms|title=The 'Never Trump' Movement Won't Give Up Even Though Trump Won|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-never-trump-movement-wont-give-up-even-though-trump-won/|access-date=May 7, 2016|work=VICE News|date=May 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506060424/https://news.vice.com/article/the-never-trump-movement-wont-give-up-even-though-trump-won|archive-date=May 6, 2016|url-status=live}} As of August 19, 2016, over 54,000 people had signed the petition.{{cite web|url = https://nevertrump.com|title = #NeverTrump|publisher = Never Means Never Pac|access-date = August 19, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160814005047/https://nevertrump.com/|archive-date = August 14, 2016|url-status = live}}

Although Trump's campaign drew a substantial amount of criticism, Trump received 88 percent of the Republican vote, while Clinton won 89 percent of Democratic voters.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/president|title=2016 Election News, Candidates & Polls|work=NBC News|date=November 17, 2016 |access-date=November 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530040030/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/president|archive-date=May 30, 2019|url-status=live}}

After Trump won the election, two Electoral College electors launched an effort to convince fellow electors who were allocated to Trump to vote against him.{{cite news |last=Hensch |first=Mark |date=November 14, 2016 |title=Two presidential electors to colleagues: Dump Trump |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/305920-two-presidential-electors-to-colleagues-dump-trump/ |newspaper=The Hill |access-date=November 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117141006/http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/305920-two-presidential-electors-to-colleagues-dump-trump |archive-date=November 17, 2016 |url-status=live }}

On December 11, Jim Himes, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives, wrote on Twitter that the Electoral College should not elect Trump: "We're 5{{nbsp}}wks from Inauguration & the President Elect is completely unhinged. The Electoral College must do what it was designed for".{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/jahimes/status/808116879558660098|title=Jim Himes on Twitter|via=Twitter|access-date=December 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213073244/https://twitter.com/jahimes/status/808116879558660098|archive-date=December 13, 2016|url-status=live}} In a December 12 interview on CNN's New Day, Himes said he was troubled by several actions by the President-elect. The issue that "pushed [him] over the edge" was Trump's criticism of the CIA and the intelligence community. The Congressman did admit Trump won "fair and square", but he said that Trump proved himself unfit for public office. He cited the intentions behind the creation of the Electoral College and argued that it was created for an instance such as the election of Trump.{{cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2016/12/12/congressman-begs-electoral-college-voters-to-block-trump/|title=Congressman begs Electoral College voters to block Trump|last=Halper|first=Daniel|date=December 12, 2016|work=New York Post|access-date=December 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213071007/http://nypost.com/2016/12/12/congressman-begs-electoral-college-voters-to-block-trump/|archive-date=December 13, 2016|url-status=live}}

In the end, efforts to persuade more electors to vote against Trump failed and Trump won 304 electors on December 19. Trump's electoral lead over Clinton even grew because a larger number of electors defected from her: Trump received 304 of his 306 pledged electors, Clinton 227 of her 232.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/12/19/506188169/donald-trump-poised-to-secure-electoral-college-win-with-few-surprises|title=Donald Trump Secures Electoral College Win, With Few Surprises|last=Detrow|first=Scott|date=December 19, 2016|work=NPR|access-date=January 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123052143/http://www.npr.org/2016/12/19/506188169/donald-trump-poised-to-secure-electoral-college-win-with-few-surprises|archive-date=January 23, 2017|url-status=live}}

In a National Review article titled "Never Trump Nevermore", Jonah Goldberg stated:

I'm going to call 'em like I see 'em and wait and see if I was wrong about Trump. ... The thing is: Never Trump is over. Never Trump was about the GOP primary and the general election, not the presidency. The Left wants to claim it must be a permanent movement, denying the legitimacy of Trump's election forever, or we were never serious. Well, that's not what we—or at least I—signed up for. ... I'll say it again: I'm going to call 'em like I see 'em and wait and see if I was wrong about Trump. So far, I've said that most of his cabinet picks have been a pleasant and welcome surprise. But he's also done plenty of things that make me feel like I had him pegged all along. We only have one president at a time—and the guy isn't even president yet. I'll give him a chance. But I won't lie for him either.{{cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Jonah|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/g-file/443133/never-trump-finished-russia-election-hacking-criticism|title=Never Trump" Finished & Russia Election Hacking Criticism|work=National Review|date=December 17, 2016|access-date=October 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112033157/http://www.nationalreview.com/g-file/443133/never-trump-finished-russia-election-hacking-criticism|archive-date=January 12, 2018|url-status=live}}

File:Paul-Ryan-2018-Portrait.jpg Paul Ryan declared his opposition to Trump in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Former House Speaker Paul Ryan on Trump indictment – CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/video/former-house-speaker-paul-ryan-on-trump-indictment/ |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821131212/https://www.cbsnews.com/video/former-house-speaker-paul-ryan-on-trump-indictment/ |url-status=live }}]]

After the election, other Republicans who had resisted Trump's candidacy, such as South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, declared their support for his presidency.{{cite magazine |last=Leibovich |first=Mark |date=February 25, 2019 |title=How Lindsey Graham Went From Trump Skeptic to Trump Sidekick |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/25/magazine/lindsey-graham-what-happened-trump.html |magazine=New York Times Magazine |access-date=June 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606145109/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/25/magazine/lindsey-graham-what-happened-trump.html |archive-date=June 6, 2019 |url-status=live }} As of February 2018, Trump's job approval among self-described Republicans was at or near 90 percent.{{cite web |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/republicans-are-coming-home-to-trump/ |title=Republicans Are Coming Home To Trump |last1=Bacon |first1=Perry |last2=Mehta |first2=Dhrumil |date=February 16, 2018 |website=FiveThirtyEight |publisher=ABC News Internet Ventures, Inc. |access-date=June 6, 2019 |quote=Gallup’s most recent weekly survey, conducted from February 5{{nbsp}}to 11, showed President Trump’s job approval rating among self-identified Republicans at 86 percent. It was the third straight week that his rating was above 85 percent—an improvement compared with 2017. Trump’s support among Republicans spent much of last year in the low 80s, even dipping into the 70s at times. SurveyMonkey polling from the first week of February shows a similar pattern: 89 percent of Republicans said they approve of Trump’s handling of his job as president. And the share of Republicans who "strongly approve"—in the mid-50s for much of last year—is up to 61 percent. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606145557/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/republicans-are-coming-home-to-trump/ |archive-date=June 6, 2019 |url-status=live }}

In 2019, details emerged about Trump's efforts to pressure the Ukrainian government to investigate the Biden family to help Trump's re-election campaign. Democrats initiated an

impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump,

but, in what was a "final blow" to some Never Trumpers, Republicans were unmoved by the evidence and "largely stood by" Trump, leading Never Trumpers to migrate to the Democratic Party.{{cite web |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-never-trumpers-crashed-the-democratic-party/ |author=Perry Bacon Jr. |title=How Never Trumpers Crashed the Democratic Party |website=fivethirtyeight |date=May 5, 2020 |access-date=2 March 2025}}

Trump reacted by publicly characterized the witnesses in the inquiry as Never Trumpers in an effort to discredit them.{{cite web |last1=Wire |first1=Sarah D. |last2=Stokols |first2=Eli |title=Ambassador Sondland changes story, says he told Ukrainians that U.S. aid was linked to launching inquiry |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-11-05/impeachment-transcripts-released |website=Los Angeles Times |date=November 5, 2019 |access-date=November 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110005205/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-11-05/impeachment-transcripts-released |archive-date=November 10, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Caroline |first1=Kelly |title=Former Senate Republican says Trump sounds like a dictator |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/30/politics/trump-dictator-1984-former-senate-republican-says-cnntv/index.html |website=CNN |date=October 30, 2019 |access-date=November 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109144242/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/30/politics/trump-dictator-1984-former-senate-republican-says-cnntv/index.html |archive-date=November 9, 2019 |url-status=live }} In unsubstantiated statements, he has also specifically accused Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor,{{cite web |last1=Cohen |first1=Marshall |last2=Subramaniam |first2=Tara |title=Fact-check: Despite Trump's claim, there's no proof diplomat Bill Taylor is a Never Trumper |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/27/politics/fact-check-bill-taylor-never-trumper/index.html |website=CNN |date=October 27, 2019 |access-date=November 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109144257/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/27/politics/fact-check-bill-taylor-never-trumper/index.html |archive-date=November 9, 2019 |url-status=live }} National Security Council official Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman,{{cite web |last1=Ma |first1=Alexandra |title=Trump threatens smear campaign against Alexander Vindman, the Purple Heart recipient who said the White House left out some phrases from its Ukraine call memo |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/alexander-vindman-trump-threaten-smear-campaign-video-2019-11 |website=Business Insider |date=November 4, 2019 |access-date=November 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109152932/https://www.businessinsider.com/alexander-vindman-trump-threaten-smear-campaign-video-2019-11 |archive-date=November 9, 2019 |url-status=live }} Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs George Kent,{{cite web |last1=Buncombe |first1=Andrew |title=President angrily mocks career diplomats who testified against him as 'never-Trumpers' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-impeachment-rally-louisiana-eddie-rispone-george-kent-william-taylor-marie-yovanovitch-bossier-a9203831.html |website=The Independent |date=November 14, 2019 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115171632/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-impeachment-rally-louisiana-eddie-rispone-george-kent-william-taylor-marie-yovanovitch-bossier-a9203831.html |archive-date=November 15, 2019 |url-status=live }} and State Department official Jennifer Williams{{cite web |last1=Dugyala |first1=Rishika |title=Trump labels top Pence aide a 'Never Trumper' |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/17/trump-pence-aide-williams-never-trumper-071330 |website=Politico|date=November 17, 2019 |access-date=November 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118154442/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/17/trump-pence-aide-williams-never-trumper-071330 |archive-date=November 18, 2019 |url-status=live }} of being Never Trumpers. When asked by Democratic House Representatives during the public impeachment hearings, Taylor, Vindman,{{cite web |last1=Voytko |first1=Lisette |title=Trump Jumps Into Impeachment Hearings Again Over 'Never Trumper' Questions |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2019/11/19/trump-jumps-into-impeachment-hearings-again-over-never-trumper-questions/ |website=Forbes |date=November 20, 2019 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120170311/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2019/11/19/trump-jumps-into-impeachment-hearings-again-over-never-trumper-questions/ |archive-date=November 20, 2019 |url-status=live }} Kent,{{cite web |title=Trump impeachment inquiry public hearings: All the latest updates |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/trump-impeachment-inquiry-public-hearings-latest-updates-191113130549252.html |website=Al Jazeera |date=November 14, 2019 |access-date=November 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114134917/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/trump-impeachment-inquiry-public-hearings-latest-updates-191113130549252.html |archive-date=November 14, 2019 |url-status=live }} and Williams, as well as former Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch,{{cite web |title=Ousted Ukraine Ambassador Yovanovitch Testifies in Impeachment Probe|url=https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/yovanovitch-impeachment-hearing |website=Wall Street Journal |date=November 14, 2019 |access-date=November 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115222352/https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/yovanovitch-impeachment-hearing |archive-date=November 15, 2019 |url-status=live }} all denied being Never Trumpers.

On October 23, 2019, Trump tweeted: "The Never Trumper Republicans, though on respirators with not many left, are in certain ways worse and more dangerous for our Country than the Do Nothing Democrats. Watch out for them, they are human scum!"{{Cite web |last=Samuels |first=Brett |date=2019-10-23 |title=Trump blasts 'Never Trump' Republicans as 'human scum' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/467131-trump-blasts-never-trump-republicans-as-human-scum/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1187063301731209220 |title=트위터의 Donald J. Trump 님: "The Never Trumper Republicans, though on respirators with not many left, are in certain ways worse and more dangerous for our Country than the do Nothing Democrats. Watch out for them, they are human scum!" |access-date=November 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114220447/https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1187063301731209220 |archive-date=November 14, 2019 |url-status=live }}

{{main|2020 United States presidential election}}

Following Trump's election in November 2016, some in the movement refocused their efforts on defeating Trump in 2020. In 2019, Kelly A. Hyman, wrote the book Top Ten Reasons to Dump Trump in 2020.{{Cite web|title=Kelly Hyman discusses Top Ten Reasons to Dump Trump in 2020. Warren flip on M4A?|url=https://politicsdoneright.com/2019/11/kelly-hyman-reasons-dump-trump/|date=November 15, 2019|website=Politics Done Right|language=en-US|access-date=May 22, 2020|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225024849/https://politicsdoneright.com/2019/11/kelly-hyman-reasons-dump-trump/|url-status=live}} Also in 2019, former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Robert F. Orr co-founded the National Republicans, who support the views of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.

Evan McMullin, who ran for president in 2016, started the group Republicans for a New President, which held The Convention on Founding Principles at the same time as the 2020 Republican National Convention. The alternative event, which included principal members of Republicans for the Rule of Law and The Lincoln Project, was primarily a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news|title=Never Trumpers plan alternate GOP convention|last=Morrill|first=Jim|work=News & Observer|date=May 18, 2020|page=2A}}

Numerous pundits, journalists and politicians speculated that President Donald Trump might face a significant Republican primary challenger in 2020 because of his historic unpopularity in polls, his association with allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, his impeachment, and his support of unpopular policies.{{cite news |last=Lutz |first=Eric |title=Trump is most the unpopular first-year president in history – but that's not even the bad news |url=https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/12/16/trump-is-most-the-unpopular-first-year-president-in-history-but-thats-not-even-the-bad-news/23309553/ |publisher=AOL.com |date=December 16, 2017 |access-date=January 6, 2018 |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724184901/https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/12/16/trump-is-most-the-unpopular-first-year-president-in-history-but-thats-not-even-the-bad-news/23309553/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Prokop |first=Andrew |title=What we learned about Trump, Russia, and collusion in 2017 |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/28/16735412/trump-russia-news-investigation-2017 |work=Vox |date=December 28, 2017 |access-date=January 6, 2018 |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724185011/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/28/16735412/trump-russia-news-investigation-2017 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-mcmanus-gop-primary-20170913-story.html|title=Trump will have a 2020 primary challenger. But who will it be?|last=McManus|first=Doyle|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 6, 2018|archive-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419020629/https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-mcmanus-gop-primary-20170913-story.html|url-status=live}}

In popular culture, political bumper stickers and yard signs expressed views like "Anyone But Trump" and "Any Functioning Adult".{{Cite book |last=Warren |first=Elizabeth |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Persist/OSYOEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Any+functioning+adult%22&pg=PT81&printsec=frontcover |title=Persist |date=2021-05-04 |publisher=Metropolitan Books |isbn=978-1-250-79925-8 |language=en |quote=People proclaimed that they would vote for anyone—anyone!—if that meant getting rid of Trump. {{sc|anyone but trump 2020}} was a hugely popular bumper sticker, along with {{sc|literally anyone else 2020}} and {{sc|any functioning adult 2020}}.}}

After rejoining the Republican Party in January 2019,{{cite web|url=https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/weld-rejoins-the-republican-ranks/|title=Weld rejoins Republican ranks|last=Jonas|first=Michael|date=February 4, 2019|website=CommonWealth Magazine|access-date=February 5, 2019|archive-date=August 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826150209/https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/weld-rejoins-the-republican-ranks/|url-status=live}} former Republican governor of Massachusetts and 2016 Libertarian vice presidential nominee Bill Weld announced the formation of a 2020 presidential exploratory committee on February 15, 2019.{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2019/02/15/bill-weld-announces-gop-presidential-exploratory-committee/|title=Former Mass. Gov. Bill Weld Is the First Republican Officially Trying to Challenge Trump in 2020|last1=Bach|first1=Natasha|date=February 16, 2019|website=Fortune|access-date=January 31, 2024|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726074227/https://fortune.com/2019/02/15/bill-weld-announces-gop-presidential-exploratory-committee/|url-status=live}} Weld announced his 2020 presidential candidacy on April 15, 2019.{{cite news |last1=Brusk |first1=Steve |title=Bill Weld officially announces he is challenging Trump for GOP nomination in 2020 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/15/politics/bill-weld-2020-trump/index.html |access-date=April 18, 2019 |publisher=CNN |date=April 15, 2019 |archive-date=October 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009060955/https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/15/politics/bill-weld-2020-trump/index.html |url-status=live }} Weld was considered a long-shot challenger because of Trump's popularity with Republicans; furthermore, Weld's views on abortion rights, gay marriage, marijuana legalization, and other issues conflict with socially conservative positions dominant in the modern Republican party.{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/04/bill-weld-officially-targets-trump-with-long-shot-primary-bid|title=Bill Weld officially targets Trump with long-shot primary bid|first=Alison|last=Durkee|work=Vanity Fair|date=April 15, 2019|access-date=January 31, 2024|archive-date=November 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111185609/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/04/bill-weld-officially-targets-trump-with-long-shot-primary-bid|url-status=live}} Weld withdrew from the race on March 18, 2020, after Trump earned enough delegates to secure the nomination.{{cite news |title=Weld drops out of the GOP primary |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/488289-weld-drops-out-of-gop-primary/|last1=Easley|first1=Jonathan|work=The Hill |date=18 March 2020}}

Former U.S. representative Joe Walsh was a strong Trump supporter in 2016, but gradually became critical of the president. On August 25, 2019, Walsh officially declared his candidacy against Trump, calling Trump an "unfit con man".{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Caroline|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kate|title=Joe Walsh to take on Trump in 2020 Republican primary|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/25/politics/joe-walsh-take-on-trump-in-2020-republican-primary/index.html|access-date=August 25, 2019|date=August 25, 2019|publisher=CNN|archive-date=June 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601083002/https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/25/politics/joe-walsh-take-on-trump-in-2020-republican-primary/index.html|url-status=live}} He then ended his campaign on February 7, 2020, following a poor performance in the Iowa Caucuses. Walsh called the Republican Party a "cult" and said that he likely would support whoever was the Democratic nominee in the general election.{{cite news |last1=Stracqualursi |first1=Veronica |title=Joe Walsh ends Republican primary challenge against Trump |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/07/politics/joe-walsh-ends-campaign/index.html |access-date=February 7, 2020 |publisher=CNN |date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=March 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306174256/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/07/politics/joe-walsh-ends-campaign/index.html |url-status=live }} According to Walsh, Trump supporters had become "followers" who think that Trump "can do no wrong", after absorbing misinformation from conservative media. He stated, "They don't know what the truth is and—more importantly—they don't care."{{Cite news|last=Walsh|first=Joe|title=Perspective {{!}} Joe Walsh: Challenging Trump for the GOP nomination taught me my party is a cult|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/02/06/joe-walsh-challenging-trump-gop-nomination-taught-me-my-party-is-cult/|access-date=2020-12-02|issn=0190-8286}}

Former South Carolina governor and former U.S. representative Mark Sanford officially declared his candidacy on September 8,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/08/us/politics/mark-sanford-president.html|title=Mark Sanford Will Challenge Trump in Republican Primary|website=The New York Times|last1=Burns|first1=Alexander|date=September 8, 2019|access-date=January 31, 2024|archive-date=May 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530180811/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/08/us/politics/mark-sanford-president.html|url-status=live}} but suspended his campaign two months later on November 12, 2019, after failing to gain significant attention from voters.{{cite news|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/former-sc-gov-mark-sanford-has-dropped-out-of-presidential/article_3def9eee-0171-11ea-84ec-8bd313d6fd8a.html|title=Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford has dropped out of presidential race|date=November 12, 2019|access-date=November 12, 2019|publisher=The Post and Courier|last=Byrd|first=Caitlin|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724190058/https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/former-sc-gov-mark-sanford-has-dropped-out-of-presidential/article_3def9eee-0171-11ea-84ec-8bd313d6fd8a.html|url-status=live}}

Trump won every primary by wide margins and clinched the nomination shortly after the Super Tuesday primaries ended. While the results were never in doubt, the primary wasn't without controversy. Several states postponed their primaries/caucuses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and others continued with in-person voting{{Cite web|last=Root|first=Danielle|date=2020-04-27|title=Wisconsin Primary Shows Why States Must Prepare Their Elections for the Coronavirus|url=https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/democracy/news/2020/04/27/484013/wisconsin-primary-shows-states-must-prepare-elections-coronavirus/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Center for American Progress|language=en-US|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819213535/https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/democracy/news/2020/04/27/484013/wisconsin-primary-shows-states-must-prepare-elections-coronavirus/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Becker|first=Amanda|date=2020-04-22|title=Seven confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to Wisconsin's April elections|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-wisconsin-election-idUSKCN223397|access-date=2021-02-21|archive-date=February 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213050206/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-wisconsin-election-idUSKCN223397|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Bentulan|first=Tessa|date=2020-03-16|title=Illinois primary election still set for Tuesday, despite growing COVID-19 cases|url=https://newschannel20.com/news/local/illinois-primary-election-still-set-for-tuesday-despite-growing-covid-19-cases|access-date=2021-02-21|website=WICS|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724185927/https://newschannel20.com/news/local/illinois-primary-election-still-set-for-tuesday-despite-growing-covid-19-cases|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=McGuinness|first=Dylan|date=2020-07-08|title=City cancels state GOP convention as party vows legal fight|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/mayor-turner-gop-convention-texas-abbott-contract-15394025.php|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US|archive-date=August 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826130946/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/mayor-turner-gop-convention-texas-abbott-contract-15394025.php|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Mahony|first=Edmund H.|title=Republicans sue to block Lamont emergency COVID order permitting all-absentee ballot primary election|url=https://www.courant.com/coronavirus/hc-news-coronavirus-gop-absentee-ballot-challenge-2020701-20200701-kbcbomfngjefdmquwkvtk5dbyu-story.html|access-date=2021-02-21|website=courant.com|date=July 2020|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724200811/https://www.courant.com/coronavirus/hc-news-coronavirus-gop-absentee-ballot-challenge-2020701-20200701-kbcbomfngjefdmquwkvtk5dbyu-story.html|url-status=live}} while Trump's claims about fraud related to by-mail voting discouraged expansion and promotion of such voting.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/05/15/856189149/it-s-partly-on-me-gop-official-says-fraud-warnings-hamper-vote-by-mail-push|title='It's Partly On Me': GOP Official Says Fraud Warnings Hamper Vote-By-Mail Push|publisher=NPR|first=Pam|last=Fessler|date=May 15, 2020|access-date=July 9, 2020|archive-date=August 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823151118/https://www.npr.org/2020/05/15/856189149/it-s-partly-on-me-gop-official-says-fraud-warnings-hamper-vote-by-mail-push|url-status=live}}

Despite the January 6 attack on the Capitol, the repeal of Roe v. Wade, his two impeachments, felony conviction, and a poor Republican showing in the 2022 midterms,{{cite journal

| date= 25 February 2024 | author=Sarah Long well |title=How Donald Trump Became Unbeatable | journal=The Atlantic |url= https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/02/trump-republican-primary/677550/

| access-date=1 March 2025}} Never Trumpers now saw no home for themselves in the Republican party for the foreseeable future.{{cite news |author=Sarah McCammon |title= Anti-Trump Republicans find themselves in a political no man's land after Trump's win |agency =NPR |date=25 November 2024 |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/11/24/nx-s1-5191466/anti-trump-republicans-gop-future-trump-transition |access-date=1 March 2025 }}

The New York Times described Trump as having completed a "hostile takeover" of the Republican Party and facing meek resistance from representatives and senators for fear of Trump-backed primary challengers. It described that his "dissenters have been driven into retirement, defeated in primaries or cowed into silence".{{Cite news |last1=Swan |first1=Jonathan |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |date=December 12, 2024 |title=The Stock Market and TV: Trump's Most Durable Guardrails |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/12/us/politics/trump-tv-stock-market.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 20, 2025 |issn=0362-4331 }} Fivethirtyeight has described the faction as "increasingly involved" in the Democratic Party where they are urging support for moderate candidate.

The movement was not "a single, cohesive group or faction", but more a "coalition of convenience", of people with different policy issues. Some opposed Trump in the 2016 primaries but supported or at least didn't oppose him in the general election, some opposed him in the general election but abandoned opposition when he won and became president. Those in the national-security field were more likely to stay opponents, than officeholders, those in law (Trump appointed many conservative judges), or those in rightwing media (where opposing the Republican presidential nominee against a Democrat was much like a sports-talk host opposing the hometown team).

Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee for president in 2012, was a major leader among anti-Trump Republicans until November 9, 2016, when Donald Trump won the election. Romney re-affirmed his anti-Trump status in 2020 and 2021, when he strongly opposed Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and for Trump inciting the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack in January 2021.

File:Liz Cheney official 116th Congress portrait.jpg, an outspoken Republican critic of Donald Trump]]

Liz Cheney is known for her vocal opposition to President Donald Trump.{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/day-of-reckoning-for-donald-trumps-nemesis-liz-cheney/articleshow/93597639.cms?from=mdr|title=Day of reckoning for Donald Trump's nemesis Liz Cheney|newspaper=The Economic Times |date=August 16, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/liz-cheney-president-b2146854.html|title=Liz Cheney: What's next for the firebrand anti-Trump Republican?|date=August 17, 2022|website=The Independent}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/06/is-the-january-6-committee-cheneys-last-stand/|title=Is the January 6 Committee Cheney's Last Stand?|website=nationalreview.com |date=June 16, 2022}}

Cheney supported the second impeachment of Donald Trump following the 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol.{{cite news |last=Draper |first=Robert |date=April 22, 2021|title=Liz Cheney vs. MAGA|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/22/magazine/liz-cheney-vs-maga.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/22/magazine/liz-cheney-vs-maga.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited|access-date=April 23, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}} Following her impeachment vote and criticism of Donald Trump, pro-Trump members of the House Republican Conference attempted to remove her from party leadership. In a second attempt, this time with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy supporting her removal, Cheney was removed from her position in May 2021.{{cite news|last=Strauss|first=Daniel|date=May 12, 2021|title=Liz Cheney removed from House leadership over Trump criticism|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/12/liz-cheney-house-leadership-republican-caucus-vote|access-date=May 12, 2021|archive-date=May 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514021835/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/12/liz-cheney-house-leadership-republican-caucus-vote|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Edmondson|first1=Catie|last2=Fandos|first2=Nicholas|date=February 4, 2021|title=House Republicans Choose to Keep Liz Cheney in Leadership|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/03/us/liz-cheney-vote.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/03/us/liz-cheney-vote.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited|access-date=February 7, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/scalise-backs-stefanik-to-replace-liz-cheney-as-gop-conference-chair-11620218211|title=Behind Liz Cheney's Break With Kevin McCarthy Over Trump|first=Kristina|last=Peterson|date=May 5, 2021|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=May 12, 2021|url-access=subscription|archive-date=May 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511215151/https://www.wsj.com/articles/scalise-backs-stefanik-to-replace-liz-cheney-as-gop-conference-chair-11620218211|url-status=live}} In July 2021, Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Cheney to the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. Two months later, she was made vice chair of the committee. As a consequence of her service on the Select Committee, Cheney's membership in the Wyoming Republican Party was revoked in November 2021.[https://www.npr.org/2021/11/15/1056025589/wyoming-gop-votes-to-stop-recognizing-cheney-as-a-republican Wyoming GOP votes to stop recognizing Cheney as a Republican] on National Public Radio, Nov 15, 2021 She was censured by the Republican National Committee (RNC) in February 2022.{{Cite news|last1=Weisman|first1=Jonathan|last2=Epstein|first2=Reid J.|date=February 4, 2022|title=G.O.P. Declares Jan. 6 Attack 'Legitimate Political Discourse'|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/04/us/politics/republicans-jan-6-cheney-censure.html|access-date=February 4, 2022}}

In 2022, Cheney lost renomination in Wyoming's Republican primary to Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman in a landslide, garnering just 28.9% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-rep-liz-cheneys-primary-loss-says-about-trumps-influence-on-the-republican-party|title=What Rep. Liz Cheney's primary loss says about Trump's influence on the Republican Party|date=August 17, 2022|website=PBS NewsHour}} Cheney has said that she intends to be "the leader, one of the leaders, in a fight to help to restore" the Republican Party.{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/news/today-exclusive-liz-cheney-says-bring-it-potential-trump-backed-t218186|title=Would Liz Cheney run to keep Trump from Oval Office? 'Whatever it takes,' she says|website=Today.com|date=May 13, 2021 |access-date=May 13, 2021|archive-date=May 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514025907/https://www.today.com/news/today-exclusive-liz-cheney-says-bring-it-potential-trump-backed-t218186|url-status=live}} She later endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.{{Cite web |last=Gangel |first=Jamie |date=September 4, 2024 |title=Liz Cheney says she is voting for Harris for president {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/04/politics/liz-cheney-voting-kamala-harris/index.html |access-date=September 9, 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}}Megerian, Chris, [https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-cheney-wisconsin-trump-89396853e5521c3870a3c88e04cbfd99 Liz Cheney will campaign with Harris in Wisconsin while Trump holds a rally in Michigan], Associated Press, October 3, 2024

Several prominent Republicans have left the party in opposition to actions taken by the Trump administration.

• Joe Scarborough (former representative and host of MSNBC's Morning Joe){{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-scarborough-leaves-republican-party/|title=Joe Scarborough leaves the Republican Party|website=CBS News|date=October 13, 2017 |access-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709040724/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-scarborough-leaves-republican-party/|archive-date=July 9, 2018|url-status=live}}
• George Will (conservative columnist){{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2018/06/22/george-will-leaves-republican-party-donald-trump/|title=George Will, Having Left Republican Party, Urges Conservatives to Vote Against Donald Trump|last1=Kelleher|first1=Kevin|website=Fortune|access-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709183505/http://fortune.com/2018/06/22/george-will-leaves-republican-party-donald-trump/|archive-date=July 9, 2018|url-status=live}}
• Max Boot (conservative columnist){{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/trump-republican-party-leave-democrats-members-us-president-a8432196.html|title=I was a member of the Republican Party before Trump – now I want the Democrats to take over|last1=Boot|first1=Max|website=Independent|access-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705212710/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/trump-republican-party-leave-democrats-members-us-president-a8432196.html|archive-date=July 5, 2018|url-status=live}}
• Richard Painter (Bush ethics lawyer){{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/04/30/richard-painter-former-bush-ethics-lawyer-run-congress-democrat/564993002/|title=Richard Painter, former Bush ethics lawyer, will run for Congress—as a Democrat|last1=Estepa|first1=Jessica|website=USA Today|access-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709021704/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/04/30/richard-painter-former-bush-ethics-lawyer-run-congress-democrat/564993002/|archive-date=July 9, 2018|url-status=live}}
• Steve Schmidt (Republican Party strategist and top George W. Bush aide){{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/us/politics/party-of-trump-steve-schmidt.html|title=Steve Schmidt, Longtime G.O.P. Strategist, Quits 'Corrupt' and 'Immoral' Party|last1=Chokshi|first1=Niraj|work=The New York Times |date=June 20, 2018 |access-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709013752/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/us/politics/party-of-trump-steve-schmidt.html|archive-date=July 9, 2018|url-status=live}}
• Jennifer Rubin (author of the "Right Turn" blog for The Washington Post){{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/04/17/jennifer-rubin-conservative-never-trump-republican-218002|title=The GOP 'Has Become the Caricature the Left Always Said It Was'|last1=Edward-Isaac|first1=Dovere|author-link=Edward-Isaac Dovere|website=Politico|date=April 17, 2018 |access-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709064624/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/04/17/jennifer-rubin-conservative-never-trump-republican-218002|archive-date=July 9, 2018|url-status=live}}
• Colin Powell (Former United States Secretary of State){{Cite news|last=Paybarah|first=Azi|date=January 11, 2021|title=Colin Powell says he 'can no longer call himself a Republican.'|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/us/colin-powell-gop.html|access-date=January 14, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114115118/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/us/colin-powell-gop.html|url-status=live}}
• Joe Walsh (former representative and radio host){{cite tweet |last=Walsh |first=Joe |user=WalshFreedom |number=1320100191266099200 |date=October 24, 2020 |title=I was a lifelong Republican. I left the Party in February. Because the Party became a cult. And I didn't want to belong to a cult. The cult leader will lose in 10 days. But he will remain the cult leader. And the Party will remain a cult. Which is why we need something new. |language=en |access-date=December 24, 2020}}
• Wayne Gilchrest (former representative){{cite web | url=https://danrodricks.com/2020/02/02/wayne-gilchrest-republicans-lacking-in-courage-integrity-morality-and-justice/ | title=Wayne Gilchrest leaves a party lacking in courage, integrity, morality and justice | date=February 2, 2020 | access-date=August 6, 2022 | archive-date=August 12, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812184020/https://danrodricks.com/2020/02/02/wayne-gilchrest-republicans-lacking-in-courage-integrity-morality-and-justice/ | url-status=live }}

File:Senator Vance official portrait. 118th Congress.jpg, a Republican who used to be an outspoken critic of Donald Trump in 2016 and later became his vice president in 2025]]

Several prominent Republicans who once opposed Trump but who later become supporters of him are listed below.

• JD Vance, (former United States senator from Ohio and currently Trump's vice president) In 2016, Vance called himself a "never-Trump guy," and called Trump "an idiot", "reprehensible" and "America's Hitler";{{Cite news |last1=Jill |first1=Colvin |last2=Smyth |first2=Julie Carr |date=April 15, 2022 |title=Trump backs GOP's JD Vance in US Senate primary in Ohio |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-backs-gops-jd-vance-us-senate-primary-84111824 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416194710/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-backs-gops-jd-vance-us-senate-primary-84111824 |archive-date=April 16, 2022 |access-date=April 17, 2022 |work=ABC News |publisher=ABC |agency=Associated Press}}{{Cite magazine |last=Wallace-Wells |first=Benjamin |date=July 15, 2024 |title=Why Donald Trump Picked J. D. Vance for Vice-President |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-political-scene/why-donald-trump-picked-j-d-vance-for-vice-president |access-date=July 16, 2024 |magazine=The New Yorker |issn=0028-792X |archive-date=July 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716002424/https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-political-scene/why-donald-trump-picked-j-d-vance-for-vice-president |url-status=live }} but in a February 2021 meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, he "took the opportunity to personally apologise to Trump", for having bought "into a narrative framed by the mainstream media".{{cite news |last1=Diss |first1=Kathryn |last2=Sweeney |first2=Lucy |title=How JD Vance transformed himself from a Never Trumper to the Republican pick for vice-president |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-17/how-jd-vance-transformed-himself-from-never-trumper-to-vp-pick/104106988 |access-date=28 February 2025 |agency=ABC (Australia) |date=17 July 2024}}
• Bernie Moreno, (United States senator from Ohio) Moreno in 2016 described Trump as a "lunatic invading [the Republican Party]" and said he could not support a Republican Party led by "that maniac".{{Cite web |last=Gomez |first=Henry J. |date=2021-04-13 |title=Ohio Republican Senate candidate running as a Trump ally once called him a 'maniac' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/ohio-republican-senate-candidate-running-trump-ally-once-called-him-n1263886 |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=NBC News |language=en}} He wrote in a tweet that he had written in a vote for Marco Rubio in the 2016 presidential election.{{Cite web |last1=Kaczynski |first1=Andrew |last2=Steck |first2=Em |date=2024-02-02 |title=Trump-backed OH Senate candidate blamed him for Jan 6th in deleted posts, tied Trump's popularity to "ignorance" {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/kfile-bernie-moreno-ohio-criticized-trump-deleted-posts/index.html |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=CNN |language=en}} During a 2019 radio interview, Moreno said, "there's no scenario in which I would support Trump." In 2024, he said, "I wear with honor my endorsement from President Trump."{{Cite web |title=Ohio Senate GOP primary: Trump-backed Bernie Moreno touts America First populism |url=https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2024/02/24/ohio-senate-bernie-moreno |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=spectrumnews1.com |language=en}}
• Lindsey Graham (United States senator from South Carolina) Long known as a moderate Republican, Graham publicly admitted to voting against Trump, the Republican candidate for president in the 2016 general election, and was "one of Trump’s "fiercest and most colorful critics" during that election cycle, stating, “I think he’s (Trump) a kook. I think he’s crazy. I think he’s unfit for office.” By 2017 Graham was complaining that “what concerns me about the American press is this endless, endless attempt to label the guy some kind of kook not fit to be President”.{{cite news |last1=Bond |first1=Richard N. |title=The mysterious case of Lindsey Graham's political transformation |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/22/opinions/lindsey-graham-political-transformation-bond/index.html |access-date=28 February 2025 |agency=CNN |date=22 February 2021}}

Among the organizations of conservative opponents of Trump is "Principles First", which has held five annual gatherings of "disaffected conservatives". Its fifth conference{{cite web |title=The 2025 Summit: American Principles & Priorities February 21-23, 2025 |url=https://www.principlesfirst.us/summit/2025-principles-first-summit/ |website=Principles First |access-date=27 February 2025}} (February 21-23, 2025, in Washington DC at the JW Marriot), had 1,200 attendees included Heath Mayo, a cofounder of the group, entrepreneur Mark Cuban, former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, and one Democratic Party office holder, "centrist" Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado.{{cite news |last1=Barrow |first1=Bill |title=The few Republicans who still oppose Trump gather in search of a path to oppose him |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/24/never-trumpers-principles-first-summit/80035210007/ |access-date=27 February 2025 |agency=Associate Press |date=24 February 2025}}

The conference billed itself as an alternative to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), but also welcomed political independents and "center-left Democrats under a shared pro-democracy, anti-authoritarian" banner. However the gathering did not end with a "clear roadmap" to fight Trump, failing to achieve a consensus on whether to fight "within Republican spheres at all, migrate to the Democratic Party or find a different path altogether.

The "Summit" one month after Trump had returned to power, was notable for being "crashed" by several convicted and pardoned rioters from the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and an evacuation of the conference on its last day after anonymous death threats against some of its speakers.

The uninvited January 6 rioters shouted at and insulted four well-known police officers—Michael Fanone, Daniel Hodges, Harry Dunn, and Aquilino Gonell—who had defended the Capitol on January 6 and were in attendance at the conference. The rioters included the former leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, whose 22 year sentence for January 6 activities had been pardoned by the Trump administration.{{cite journal |last1=Nichols |first1=Tom |title=Trump's Titushky |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/02/trump-titushky-ukraine-russia/681869/?utm_campaign=atlantic-daily-newsletter&utm_content=20250228&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=The+Atlantic+Daily |journal=The Atlantic |access-date=1 March 2025 |date=28 February 2025}} This "targeted harassment" by intruders was allegedly a first for the conference, but police officer Fanone told the crowd that it was only a "small taste" of what his life has been like for four years since the insurrection.

The conference was evacuated on its last day following a death threat against conference speakers John Bolton and former DC police officer Michael Fanone, both of whom had been critical of President Trump.{{cite news |last1=O'Sullivan |first1=Donie |last2=Stracqualursi |first2=Veronica |title=Political conference in DC interrupted by death threats against speakers critical of Trump |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/23/politics/principles-first-washington-dc-threats/index.html |access-date=27 February 2025 |agency=CNN |date=23 February 2025}} In the Trump administration, communications director Steven Cheung quote-posted on his government account a Principles First announcement, which included pictures of the featured speakers and a link to the schedule, four days before the conference, and reposted it later. Journalist Tom Nichols speculates Cheung's post of what Cheung called the “Cuck Convention”, may have been for the benefit of people like Tarrio, and quotes a Middle East and Russia commentator Michael Weiss, that the actions of "pardoned putschist" Tarrio intimidating opponents of Trump resembles the pattern of thugs working on behalf of strongmen like Ukrainian strongman Viktor Yanukovych.

• Factions in the Republican Party
• List of former Trump administration officials who endorsed Kamala Harris
• List of former Trump administration officials who endorsed Joe Biden
• List of Republicans who opposed the Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign
• List of Republicans who opposed the Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign
• List of Republicans who opposed the Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign

• 43 Alumni for Biden
• No Labels
• Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform (RePAIR)
• Republican Accountability Project
• Right Side PAC
• The Bulwark
• The Resistance

{{Reflist}}

• {{ cite book |title=Never Trump: The Revolt of the Conservative Elites, by |first1= Robert P. |last1= Saldin |first2=Steven M. |last2= Teles |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=2020}}

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