In wake of election loss, Trump’s enemies list keeps expanding

US President Donald Trump has a long history of making enemies out of people on whom he had previously heaped praise. From his longtime lawyer and “fixer” Michael Cohen, to former Cabinet officials, Trump regularly undercuts those he feels have wronged him.

Now, as he continues his efforts to deny Joe Biden’s presidential victory, a new list of Trump friends-to-enemies has emerged: a group of extremely loyal backers, now on the outs because Trump feels betrayed by them.

Attorney General Bill Barr

Minutes after Biden’s Electoral College victory was affirmed, Trump announced Barr had submitted his resignation, effective a month before his term was to end. Though Trump has insisted Barr is leaving on good terms, reportedly Trump soured on Barr after his early December remarks to The Associated Press that he has “not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election”.

Trump is also reportedly upset at Barr for not fast-tracking a conclusion from a Justice Department investigation into the FBI’s handling of its probe of the Trump campaign.

Soon after Barr’s comments to the AP, Trump was asked if he had “confidence” in Barr, and Trump refused to answer.

And just before Barr submitted his resignation letter, Trump called him out on Twitter for not doing enough regarding investigations into the foreign business dealings of Biden’s son, Hunter.

Why didn’t Bill Barr reveal the truth to the public, before the Election, about Hunter Biden. Joe was lying on the debate stage that nothing was wrong, or going on – Press confirmed. Big disadvantage for Republicans at the polls!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2020

Fox News

To say Trump had a cozy relationship with right-leaning Fox News is understating things a bit. Yet despite years of giving exclusive interviews and receiving nearly unwavering support from many of the network’s hosts, Trump has now taken to discrediting Fox programming in lieu of more conservative, non-network news.

.@FoxNews daytime is not watchable. In a class with CNN & MSDNC. Check out @OANN, @newsmax and others that are picking up the slack. Even a boring football game, kneeling and all, is better!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2020

What set Trump off? First, he was reportedly livid that Fox was the first network to make a projection on election night that Joe Biden would win Arizona, something Trump believes set an early narrative that he would ultimately lose the election to Biden. His fury intensified after Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace corrected a correspondent to refer to Biden as president-elect to regular Fox News guest Geraldo Rivera admitting that Trump is “not speaking to me right now because of my position on the election being over”.

Trump, in particular, seems to be attacking “daytime” Fox News, where the segments are more news-heavy in contrast to the late-night, opinion-based programming in Hannity and Carlson’s segments. The president now is recommending his supporters get their news from programs like Newsmax and OANN, two networks that helped Trump and his supporters promote the unfounded allegations that the election was “rigged” and “stolen” by the Democrats from Trump.

.@FoxNews daytime is virtually unwatchable, especially during the weekends. Watch @OANN, @newsmax, or almost anything else. You won’t have to suffer through endless interviews with Democrats, and even worse!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 28, 2020

Georgia Republicans

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp was endorsed by Trump in 2018 and Kemp endorsed and campaigned for Trump in 2020, but now he finds himself facing re-election with the president already touting his replacement. As governor, Kemp ultimately signed off on certifying the results of the presidential election in Georgia, where the state voted for a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time since 1992.

Do something @BrianKempGA. You allowed your state to be scammed. We must check signatures and count signed envelopes against ballots. Then call off election. It won’t be needed. We will all WIN! https://t.co/UiJrlyBGiK

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2020

Before this, Trump viewed himself as the key factor in Kemp’s election win, saying in a news conference in April that “I worked very hard for his election … he ended up winning a primary after I came out and endorsed him. So, a lot of good things and there’s a lot of good feeling between myself and Brian Kemp. I like him a lot.”

Yet, the Trump administration is now slamming the state’s top Republican for not interfering in the vote-counting process to benefit Trump.

How does Governor @BrianKempGA allow certification of votes without verifying signatures and despite the recently released tape of ballots being stuffed? His poll numbers have dropped like a rock. He is finished as governor! @RepDougCollins

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 10, 2020

In retaliation, Trump began urging one of his unwavering backers, US Representative Doug Collins, to run against Kemp in 2022. “Doug, you want to run for governor in two years?” Trump said at a rally in Valdosta, Georgia, earlier this month, adding that Collins would “be a good-looking governor”.

Georgia Lt. Governor @GeoffDuncanGA is a RINO Never Trumper who got himself elected as LG by falsely claiming to be “pro-Trump”. Too dumb or corrupt to recognize massive evidence of fraud in GA & should be replaced! We need every great Georgian to call him out! #SpecialSession!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2020

Trump’s wrath has also been directed at other top Georgia Republicans, including Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, both of whom were insufficiently loyal, in Trump’s view. In reality, they, along with Kemp, were simply following standard procedure for counting and certifying the state’s votes.

Despite Raffensperger saying he has been a lifelong Republican and insisting that he hoped that Trump would have won the election, Trump once again responded with calls for resignation.

Brad Raffensperger will be a fantastic Secretary of State for Georgia – will work closely with @BrianKempGA. It is really important that you get out and vote for Brad – early voting….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2018

Why isn’t the @GASecofState Brad Raffensperger, a so-called Republican, allowing us to look at signatures on envelopes for verification? We will find tens of thousands of fraudulent and illegal votes…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2020

Governor Doug Ducey

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, similar to Kemp, has been facing blowback after signing off on results in general elections results in Arizona, giving Biden electoral votes in another previously reliably Republican state.

This is a far cry from Trump’s words for Ducey during his campaign in October, calling Ducey “one of the best governors in the country”, going further to say, “there’s no other human being on earth other than maybe Doug Ducey that could have handled the crap that I’ve had to handle”. So how does Trump go from “anything we can do, you’re going to call me” to saying Ducey has “betrayed the American people”?

Governor @DougDucey of Arizona is doing a great job. Doug is strong on Crime, the Border, and our Second Amendment. Loves our Military & our Vets. Vote for Doug, he has my full and Complete Endorsement!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2018

Ducey has come out strong in his own defence, saying “If you want to contest the results, now is the time. Bring your challenges. That’s the law. I’ve sworn an oath to uphold it, and I take my responsibility seriously.”

Why is he rushing to put a Democrat in office, especially when so many horrible things concerning voter fraud are being revealed at the hearing going on right now. @OANN What is going on with @dougducey? Republicans will long remember! https://t.co/XILGaHcyw7

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 30, 2020

Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper

When Mark Esper was promoted to acting defense secretary in June 2019, Trump said he had “no doubt he will do a fantastic job!”

….I thank Pat for his outstanding service and will be naming Secretary of the Army, Mark Esper, to be the new Acting Secretary of Defense. I know Mark, and have no doubt he will do a fantastic job!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2019

Esper was subsequently fired last month, and his dismissal was just a matter of time after Esper publicly disagreed with Trump mid-year, saying that active-duty US military should be used to quell protests in American streets.

After protests and looting took place in several US cities following the police-involved death of George Floyd in May, Trump threatened to send in “the Federal Government … and that includes using the unlimited power of our Military”.

Crossing State lines to incite violence is a FEDERAL CRIME! Liberal Governors and Mayors must get MUCH tougher or the Federal Government will step in and do what has to be done, and that includes using the unlimited power of our Military and many arrests. Thank you!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020

Esper told reporters that the military, “should only be used as a matter of last resort and only in the most urgent and dire of situations”.

Esper’s job was considered in peril after that comment and Trump dismissed him on November 9.

…Chris will do a GREAT job! Mark Esper has been terminated. I would like to thank him for his service.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2020