2016 Election

The Exact Moment Each of Trump’s Enemies Sold Their Souls

Less than 10 months ago, standing up to Donald Trump was among the most noble, patriotic acts sententious Republicans could perform. Oh, how times have changed. Whether it was for the cause of the American people, or in the interest of saving their hides or reviving their careers, these former #NeverTrumpers found it in their hearts to forgive the gaffe-prone Republican, whether he was caught misusing his family charity or bragging about groping women’s genitals. Herein, the exact, ignominious moments they struck their respective Faustian deals with the great orange devil, captured on film forever.
Image may contain Tie Accessories Accessory Human Person Mitt Romney Suit Coat Clothing Overcoat and Apparel
Digital Colorization by Ben Park; From Getty Images.
  • Image may contain Tie Accessories Accessory Human Person Mitt Romney Suit Coat Clothing Overcoat and Apparel
    Digital Colorization by Ben Park; From Getty Images.

    Mitt Romney

    The O.G. Never Trumper, Romney effectively renounced his past denunciations of the president-elect, whom he had previously called a “con man,” when Trump began publicly courting him for secretary of state. (He did not get the job.)

  • Digital Colorization by Ben Park; From Getty Images.

    Chris Christie

    During his presidential campaign, the New Jersey governor called Trump a “thin-skinned,” “13-year-old,” whose ideas “made no sense,” so it was quite the surprise to see Christie standing shell-shocked at Trump’s side, weeks after he dropped out, upon giving him his hearty endorsement.

  • Digital Colorization by Ben Park.

    Ted Cruz

    After Trump insulted his wife’s looks, the Texas senator responded by all-but calling his primary opponent a ratf***er and refused to endorse him during a speech at the Republican National Convention. But months later, not only did he urge his voters to pull the lever for Trump, he was spotted morosely phone-banking in front of his former enemy’s campaign signage.

  • Digital Colorization by Ben Park; From Getty Images.

    Reince Priebus

    A long time ago, in the year 2016, the R.N.C. chairman threw everything he could to prevent Trump from becoming the party’s nominee. Days after Trump won, Reince stood by his side as his chief of staff, possibly getting the least humiliating outcome for an erstwhile Trump foe.

  • Digital Colorization by Ben Park; From PBS.

    Marco Rubio

    The Florida senator, who Trump ruthlessly mocked as “little” and “sweaty” throughout the primary race, so despised his antagonist that he made the ill-fated decision to hit back in kind, mocking Trump’s makeup and hand size. After he dropped out, it took several months for him to embrace Trump, though he could not bring himself to appear at the R.N.C. in person to make the endorsement, sending in a video instead.

  • Digital Colorization by Ben Park; From Getty Images.

    Paul Ryan

    The House Speaker spent months trying to maintain a safe distance from Trump, condemning his statements (even as he declined to renounce him) and at one point canceling a rally appearance with Trump after his past p****-grabbing comments came to light. Flash-forward two months, and Ryan was praising Trump in front of a cheering crowd in Wisconsin, thanking him for clinching the first Republican presidential win in the state in decades.

  • Digital Colorization by Ben Park; From Getty Images.

    Jason Chaffetz

    “I’m out. I can no longer in good conscience endorse this person for president,” the Utah congressman declared days after the Access Hollywood tapes leaked, calling Trump’s comments “some of the most abhorrent and offensive comments that you can possibly imagine.” It took Chaffetz only 19 days to flip back to Trump.

  • Digital Colorization by Ben Park; From Getty Images.

    Ben Carson

    When Trump compared him to a child molester, the soft-spoken neurosurgeon responded that he would “pray for him,” the Carson equivalent of a sick burn. But after Carson wandered onstage at Mar-a-Lago to give his endorsement, he immediately transformed into one of Trump’s most consistently confusing surrogates.