A revealing account of a former president's unconventional attempt to reclaim power surfaces in a new book.
According to Newsweek, Bob Woodward's upcoming book "War" discloses Donald Trump's efforts to regain the presidency through a special election months after his 2020 defeat. The book provides fresh insights into Trump's persistent attempts to invalidate Joe Biden's victory.
Woodward said Trump reached out to Republican Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks in June 2021, urging him to lead a public campaign for a special election. This move came six months after Biden's inauguration, at a time when Trump was still privately pushing claims of a "stolen election."
The former president's request to Brooks was part of a broader strategy to overturn the 2020 election results. Trump reportedly believed he would return to the White House by August 2021, aligning with predictions circulated by QAnon conspiracy theorists.
Brad Parscale, Trump's former campaign manager, is quoted in the book describing Trump's mindset:
He had an army. An army for Trump. He wants that back. I don't think he sees it as a comeback. He sees it as vengeance.
This revelation sheds light on Trump's state of mind and his unwillingness to accept the election outcome, even months after leaving office.
Despite his previous support for Trump's legal challenges to Biden's Electoral College victory, Brooks drew the line at the special election proposal. He refused Trump's request, citing constitutional limitations.
According to Woodward, Brooks told Trump: "The Constitution provided no mechanism to reinstate a president."
This refusal marked a turning point in Brooks' political career. Trump's subsequent withdrawal of endorsement for Brooks in Alabama's 2022 Senate race contributed to Brooks' loss in the Republican primary.
Trump's reaction to Brooks' refusal demonstrates the political consequences of diverging from his narrative. In March 2021, Trump publicly withdrew his endorsement of Brooks, accusing him of "going woke" for suggesting it was time to move past the 2020 election fraud claims.
Brooks later revealed that his falling out with Trump stemmed from his refusal to assist in overturning the 2020 election. He stated to reporters, "He wanted the election rescinded and a do-over. But there's no legal way to do it."
This incident highlights the challenges faced by Republican politicians in navigating their relationships with Trump and his ongoing claims about the 2020 election.
The book's revelations about Trump's post-election strategies offer a glimpse into the former president's mindset and actions following his 2020 defeat. It underscores the lengths to which Trump was willing to go to challenge the election results, even months after leaving office. The special election proposal and its aftermath illustrate the ongoing impact of Trump's claims on Republican politics and the challenges faced by party members in reconciling loyalty with constitutional obligations.
