From the moment Donald Trump came down the Trump Tower escalators, he changed the Republican Party.
But not all of the old guard went along with the changes willingly – many fought the changes kicking and screaming.
And now the former President can’t stop laughing as this GOP Senator announced he’s leaving politics.
Trump vs. Sasse
When Donald Trump entered the White House, the establishment wing of the Republican party resisted.
Many Never-Trumpers left the Party in protest, and now support radical Democrats over MAGA conservatives.
Others thought they could train Trump – like they have done with so many once-good Republicans politicians in the past.
And then there was Nebraska GOP Sen. Ben Sasse.
The Cornhusker State elected Sasse in 2014.
By 2016, Sasse was one of the party’s leading Trump critics.
“We can either continue to drift as a party that exists as a vehicle for the grievances of the angriest, oldest folks, or we can be the future-focused party of 2030 – with policies centered on the future of work and the future of war,” Sasse said of Trump’s influence over the GOP.
Sasse even voted to convict Trump following his second impeachment.
And now, like Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger and others before him, Ben Sasse is exiting Congress.
Bye, bye, Ben Sasse
The former Midland University President is resigning from the U.S. Senate to become the next President of Florida University.
And there is perhaps no one in the country celebrating Sasse’ new gig more so than Donald Trump.
Trump also issued a warning for the University of Florida in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“Great news for the United States Senate, and our Country itself,” Trump wrote. “Liddle’ Ben Sasse, the lightweight Senator from the great State of Nebraska, will be resigning. If he knew he was going to resign so early in his term, why did he run in the first place? But it’s still great news! The University of Florida will soon regret their decision to hire him as their President….”
Sasse won a landslide re-election in 2020 – less than two-years before deciding to leave the Upper Chamber.
While one of the Cornhusker State’s U.S. Senators was no fan of the former President, Nebraska voters are.
Trump won the state by about 25-points in 2016, and about 20-points in 2020.
Perhaps Sasse’s exit will open the door for Nebraska voters to elect an American First candidate to the Senate to replace him.
But that will have to wait until 2026.
Under Nebraska law, there is not a special election to fill such vacancies – instead the Governor appoints a replacement to finish the term.
If Sasse’s resignation becomes official before the end of the year, current Republican Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts will name his successor.
However, if it doesn’t take effect until 2023, the state’s next governor will handle the appointment.
Having served his two-terms, Gov. Ricketts is term-limited out of office.
It is heavily rumored in Nebraska that Ricketts will be named to finish Sasse’s Senate term.
Political Animal News will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
