Now that Donald Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee, the only drama left in the race—apart from his choice of a running mate—is who in the GOP will support Trump and who will not.
Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska says he won’t vote for the real estate tycoon. Former presidents George W. Bush and George H. W. Bush have no plans to endorse him. House Speaker Paul Ryan is “just not ready” to decide, and Senator Susan Collins of Maine is waiting to “see what Donald Trump does from here on out.”
But every day, more Republicans fall in line behind Trump—including those who had criticized the candidate before he cleared the GOP’s crowded field. Here are the most egregious examples, and we’ll update this list as more Trump critics hop aboard the bandwagon.
Paul Ryan
House speaker
Bobby Jindal
Former governor of Louisiana
John McCain
Senator“I share the concerns about Donald Trump that my friend and former Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, described in his speech today. I would also echo the many concerns about Mr. Trump’s uninformed and indeed dangerous statements on national security issues that have been raised by 65 Republican defense and foreign policy leaders.”
“I am a Ronald Reagan–Teddy Roosevelt Republican and I support the Republican Party. And the Republicans have chosen the nominee for the party. I think that makes sense.”
John Cornyn
Senate majority whip“We can't have a nominee be an albatross around the down-ballot races…. I think [Trump] certainly is a controversial figure. I think we need someone who can unify the party, as opposed to divide the party.”
“I think he could change the electoral map in ways we haven't seen before…. I think it will be OK.”
Nikki Haley
Governor of South Carolina
Kelly Ayotte
Senator“I don't support what he has done and I don't think he will be our nominee. So I don't think I'll have to worry about supporting him.”
Spokeswoman Liz Johnson: “As she's said from the beginning, Kelly plans to support the nominee. As a candidate herself, she hasn't and isn't planning to endorse anyone this cycle.”
Ari Fleischer
Former press secretary for George W. Bush“Donald Trump is like watching a roadside accident.... Everybody pulls over to see the mess. And Trump thinks that’s entertainment. But running for president is serious. And the risk for the party is he tarnishes everybody.”
“There's a lot about Donald Trump that I don't like, but I'll vote for Trump over Hillary any day.”
Matt Moore
Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party
David Jolly
Congressman“It is time that my side of the aisle has one less candidate in the race for the White House. It is time for Donald Trump to withdraw from the race.”
Spokeswoman Sarah Bascom: “Rep. Jolly congratulates Mr. Trump on his historic victory in the Republican primary. Mr. Trump has won the support of millions of Floridians and has earned the opportunity to unify and lead the party in providing an alternative vision for the future of the country than that of President Obama and Secretary Clinton.”
Henry Barbour
Republican National Committee member“My expectation has been that I would support the Republican nominee, but I can’t support somebody who would divide the country by race. That’s unacceptable to me and I think unacceptable to most Americans.”
“Donald Trump is the guy with the keys to the car. He's the one who needs to unite us. Now is his opportunity. The voters have picked him.”
Tim Scott
Senator“Any candidate who cannot immediately condemn a hate group like the KKK does not represent the Republican Party, and will not unite it…. If Donald Trump can't take a stand against the KKK, we cannot trust him to stand up for America against Putin, Iran or ISIS.”
On whether he can support Trump: “Oh yeah…. The country is better off having a Republican in the White House than having a Democrat in the White House.”
