In a surprising twist, former President Donald Trump has garnered the endorsement of ex-Senator Richard Burr, one of the few Republicans who voted to convict him during his second impeachment trial.
Burr retired in January 2023 and had voted against Trump in connection to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots—an event that followed a rally where Trump urged his supporters to “fight like hell.” This vote was tied to charges of incitement of insurrection.
Trump’s first impeachment occurred in late 2019 when he was accused of withholding military aid to coerce Ukraine’s President, Zelensky, into probing Biden. Burr opted not to convict during this trial, and neither impeachment led to a conviction due to the requirement of a two-thirds supermajority in the Senate.
According to Spectrum News, Burr revealed in a July interview that he plans to vote for Trump this year, insisting his 2021 vote was a protest rather than a claim that Trump should be disqualified from office. His concern then was Trump’s failure to ensure Vice President Mike Pence’s safety during the Capitol chaos.
Joe Raedle; Al Drago
“My vote wasn’t about anything presented by the House,” Burr explained. It stemmed from his views on Trump’s handling of the Capitol situation, which he deemed a breach of duty.
While Burr conceded that some might struggle to reconcile his endorsement of Trump with his impeachment vote, he is comfortable with his decision, viewing it as a one-time lapse in judgment by the former president.
On the flip side, Mike Pence, who recently sought the GOP nomination, has openly distanced himself from Trump, citing “profound differences” in a Fox News discussion. After the 2020 election, their relationship soured as Trump criticized Pence for not blocking the election certification.
Meanwhile, former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, a frequent Trump critic after certifying Biden’s victory, has also decided to endorse Trump as well as pro-Trump Senate candidate Kari Lake, signaling a willingness to put their differences behind them.
Interestingly, a handful of former Republican leaders have chosen to support Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump in the upcoming election, highlighting a significant rift in the party.