Ahead of the latest “No Kings” protests, Republicans launched a remarkably aggressive effort to slander Donald Trump’s critics, repeatedly insisting that the president’s opponents “hate America.” The usual suspects helped lead the smear campaign, but they were joined by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer — who acted like a congressman who had something to prove.
In the run-up to Saturday’s nationwide rallies, the Minnesota Republican was relentless in his attacks, insisting that the Democratic Party has a “pro-terrorist wing,” to which party leaders were catering. Those who prepared to participate in a public event criticizing Trump, Emmer added, “just do not love this country.”
As the protest drew closer, the congressman’s rhetoric got more hysterical. Emmer even appeared on Fox Business last week and said the government shutdown continued because Democrats feared parts of their “very violent” base. Around the same time, the Minnesotan started peddling conspiratorial claims about the 2020 election, while continuing to make bizarre claims about the Democratic Party’s “radical pro-terrorist wing.”
After the “No Kings” events, Emmer picked up where he left off. On Monday morning, again referred to Saturday’s “hate America” rallies. A day later, the member of the House GOP leadership described Democrats as “despicable,” before leaning once again into “terrorist” talk.
To follow Capitol Hill is to hear all kinds of ridiculous rhetoric from radicalized members, some of whom are looking for attention, many of whom are true believers.
Emmer, however, wasn’t supposed to be one of Congress’ knee-jerk partisan bomb-throwers.
This might seem like ancient history, but it was exactly two years ago this week when Emmer secured the votes he needed to become the next speaker of the House. Just two hours after his intra-party victory, however, Trump issued a public condemnation of the congressman, labeling the Minnesotan “a Globalist RINO” who was “totally out-of-touch with Republican Voters.”
Emmer had reached out to Trump directly ahead of the conference vote to make his case and apparently said he was Trump’s “biggest fan.” The lobbying didn’t have the intended effect: Trump trashed the GOP congressman anyway, in large part because Emmer did not vote to overturn the 2020 election.
A mere four hours after Emmer became the speaker-designate, he became the former speaker-designate as part of an unprecedented turn of events.
As the dust settled, Trump gloated about having taken down Emmer. “He’s done. It’s over,” the then-former president reportedly said in reference to the House majority whip. “I killed him.”
It was roughly at this point that Emmer had a decision to make. He could position himself as a principled congressman, who was able to maintain professional relationships with members of both parties — but that would put his career in Republican politics in jeopardy. After all, along that same path lie the careers of former lawmakers such as Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger and Mitt Romney.
And so Emmer made a different choice.
The Minnesotan held a fundraiser for Trump at Mar-a-Lago. He agreed to serve as the Minnesota state chairman of Trump’s 2024 campaign. He transformed into yet another tiresome partisan who peddles ridiculous talking points and helps lead smear campaigns against political opponents.
Emmer’s far-right transformation may very likely protect him from any kind of MAGA backlash. But the congressman’s reputation as a credible figure on Capitol Hill is clearly gone forever, and his indifference to this development speaks volumes about the contemporary GOP.
This post updates our related earlier coverage.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
