Ex-Republican congressman from Michigan says Trump turned the party into a ‘cult’

Former US Rep. Dave Trott (R-Michigan) has been a registered Republican for most of his life. But with Donald Trump at the top of the ticket, he said he can no longer trust Republicans to look out for Michigan’s best interests.

MICHIGAN—During his two terms serving in the US House, US Rep. Dave Trott (R-Michigan) stood alongside his fellow Republicans to support a broad array of conservative issues—including school choice programs and efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

But ever since ex-President Donald Trump took the reins of the Republican Party, Trott has been having a bit of a political identity crisis. In an interview with The ‘Gander, Trott said that he’s no longer certain he can even identify as a Republican—namely because he’s supporting Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in November.

“The Republican Party of today is not a party I recognize,” Trott said. “It’s largely—in Michigan and many other places around the country—controlled by the MAGA folks and I think they’ve really turned the party into more of a cult than a political party. And not only with Trump as their leader, but so many other people in the party today just take extreme positions on issues.”

He added: “So, I probably would not consider myself a Republican today. Maybe I will become a Republican again in the future but, at the moment, I’m not a Republican.”

Trott, 63, started volunteering for his county Republican Party as a teenager and still subscribes to many conservative beliefs, he said. But after serving in Congress under the Trump administration, he decided to vote for President Joe Biden in 2020—and hasn’t looked back.

“I was wrong about Trump every step of the way,” Trott told The ‘Gander. “I never thought he’d get the nomination. I never thought he would win. I thought, with his business background, that he maybe knew how to run things and that he might be a good president—and I was wrong.”

During his tenure, Trott developed a reputation as a relatively moderate member of Congress who was willing to budge on some issues that were important to both Democrats and Republicans. But under Trump, there was no room for compromise—only extremism, Trott said.

“He had such a tight hold on the party. You couldn’t criticize him. You couldn’t differ from him in any position because then you’d risk being primaried,” Trott said. “Some of the things he has said he’ll do if he gets back into the White House will be terribly damaging to our country and our democracy. For Trump, it’s the final battle. It’s either the White House or the jailhouse.”

Faced with another four years of Trump, Trott has emerged as a vocal Harris-Walz supporter ahead of this year’s election—including as one of the founding members of the Republicans for Harris-Walz campaign, which launched in three states, including Michigan, in early August. 

Among Trott’s biggest concerns: Trump’s plans to deport 11 million people and enact new federal tariffs, as well as Project 2025 and the damage it could cause in Michigan.

“So many of the platforms and positions in that 900-page document are extreme and promise to divide us further,” Trott said. “And implementing them, I think, will stress and challenge our democracy—especially with Trump as their leader, rooting on that division and acrimony.”

When it comes to Harris’ policies, Trott still finds plenty of things to criticize. But for him, it’s that ability to criticize them—and work together to find common ground—that’s more important.

“I think Harris is a serious person. I think she certainly has plenty of experience,” Trott said. “I’m more concerned about what Donald Trump could do to our democracy and to the world, for that matter. I think our number one role is to protect our democracy and put country over party.”

He added: “I think the most succinct way to summarize why Donald Trump should never return to the White House is he’s unfit. I believe he’s psychologically, intellectually, emotionally, and morally unfit. … No matter what your concern is about Harris’ policies, Donald Trump will do more damage to our country in four years than anything Harris can put into law.”

READ MORE: Meet the Michigan Republicans supporting Curtis Hertel for Congress

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