Media

Psaki slams ‘spinelessness’ of GOP candidates defending Trump post-Colorado ruling

by Nick Robertson - 12/23/23 12:23 PM ET

Jen Psaki takes part in a featured session during the South by Southwest Film Festival on Friday, March 10, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)

MSNBC host and former White House press secretary Jen Psaki took aim at 2024 GOP presidential primary candidates Saturday, after the group lined up to defend Trump following Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling that he be removed from the state’s primary ballot.

The unprecedented determination argued Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, and should be disqualified from the ballot under the 14th Amendment. The case is expected to be heard by the Supreme Court.

Following the ruling Tuesday, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley called the move “unthinkable” and undemocratic, while Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) said it was a political “stunt” that will actually help Trump. Prominent Trump critic and former Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) joined the fray to disagree with the decision, calling it “bad for the country.”

Psaki said the responses are “part of a pattern,” and show the “spinelessness” of the GOP frontrunner’s primary rivals in their support of Trump against his legal woes.

“And polls of Republican primary voters give us an indication as to why,” she wrote.

A majority of GOP voters don’t see Trump’s multiple criminal indictments as an issue. Many have dismissed the legal concerns as political, an effort Trump himself has spearheaded.

About three quarters of Republicans disagreed with the Colorado Supreme Court ruling, a YouGov poll found this week.

“While we may not yet know how the courts will ultimately rule in this case…we do know that Trump’s opponents somehow don’t see his legal troubles as a liability, in large part because the Republican electorate doesn’t either,” Psaki said.

Psaki also commented on reported threats to Colorado Supreme Court justices following their decision. She said those threats also follow a trend of Trump supporters threatening or committing violence against those who act against the former president.

“This is scary stuff…and it does not seem like it is going to stop,” she said.

Trump continues to hold a significant lead in the GOP primary despite the Colorado ruling. He has about 64 percent support nationally, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ average of polls.