Trump Lashes Out As House Republican Announces Retirement

(RepublicanReport.org) – Donald Trump had a busy day on Easter, posting on his Truth Social page. The former president blasted his legal foes, such as New York Justice Arthur Engoron and Attorney General Leticia James (D). Likewise, he eviscerated his political rival, President Joe Biden, for his botched handling of border security, the economy, and support for the Transgender Day of Visibility. Trump also lashed out at a House Republican who recently announced his retirement.

Trump reposted a link to an article published by the Washington Examiner detailing Rep. Mike Gallagher’s (R-WI) decision to retire later this month despite pleas for GOP leadership. The former president prefaced the Truth by advising his followers never to forget Republican “cowards and weaklings,” adding, “Such a disgrace.”

On March 22, Gallagher issued a press release announcing his retirement from the lower chamber effective April 19. He released a statement in early February advising he wouldn’t seek an additional term in office.

A statement from Congressman Mike Gallagher. pic.twitter.com/dOBcM8kbNV

— Rep. Gallagher Press Office (@RepGallagher) March 22, 2024

Gallagher sits on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He also serves as the Chair of the Select Committee overseeing the “strategic competition between the US and China” and the head of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber-Technologies and Innovation.

Once Gallagher leaves, Republicans will hold only 217 seats to the Democrats’ 213. That means that 216 votes will constitute a majority in the chamber, and the GOP can only afford to lose one person on any measure before the full chamber.

Gallagher follows the lead of several other high-profile Republican House members. For instance, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) retired in December. Likewise, Ken Buck (R-CO) resigned in late March. He sat on the powerful House committees on Foreign Affairs and the Judiciary and was a leading Freedom Caucus member.

Some political watchers speculate that Republicans could lose control of the House, leading to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) replacing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

However, Catholic University Professor Matthew Green said the odds of the chamber flipping are relatively low. Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Molly Reynolds agreed that Democrats would unlikely take over the House. She did concede that the recent spate of mid-session departures was problematic due to the GOP’s narrow majority.