National Review writer David French wrote an op-ed Wednesday morning explaining why the Never Trump movement is still alive.
“The demise of the Never Trump movement is greatly exaggerated,” French argued. “Never Trump was only partially about this election. At its core, the movement represents a statement about the role of character and ideas in American politics and culture.”
Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol named French as his third-party presidential candidate choice in early June. French killed the supposed run before it ever started.
French continued his essay by arguing that ideas and character were more important than strategic politics. French argues the Never Trump movement is founded on a concern for Donald Trump’s character, and his ideas.
French used Trump’s changing stance on abortion to portray him as a Republican candidate who doesn’t represent conservative values. To French, in order to fight for those conservative values, it is more important for the voter to not support Trump than to make sacrifices for the good of the Republican party.
French acknowledged the Never Trump movement failed to achieve its primary goal of stopping Trump.
“So Trump has profound differences not just with me but with Americans like me. And we’re not willing to lift a single finger — not even in the voting booth — to advance his ideas, even if his opponent’s ideas are also repugnant.”
The Never Trump movement tried to pass a vote that would officially free the delegates from their state instructions, but that measure was first voted down in the rules committee vote, and then later ignored after the movement collected the required signatures in order to force a vote on the floor of the convention.
After the rules committee killed the motion, Kristol took to Twitter and begged former candidate Mitt Romney or Sen. Ben Sasse to run for president on a third-party ticket.
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