Rachel Maddow: Trump is selling ‘the end of politics’ to his base

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow said former President Trump is selling “the end of politics” to his base as he runs for the White House in 2024, arguing he is pitching a vision for the country that favors “a strongman leader.”

“Donald Trump is not leading the Republican Party and leading the Republican field of candidates because of his youthful vigor … or because of his policy preferences or because eloquence. None of that is going on,” Maddow said during an appearance on the network Monday evening.

“What he’s offering is what he both inherently offers and now, more and more, explicitly offers, which is: If you pick me, that’ll be the end of politics … [you] won’t have to deal with politics anymore,” she said.

Maddow argued that Trump is trying to make the case to supporters that if they back him they “won’t have to deal with contested elections” anymore.

“You won’t have to deal with contests or divisions when it comes to power. You’ll have a strongman leader, and I’ll just do what I want. And won’t that be a lot simpler?” Maddow said. “That’s what he’s offering. That strongman model is what the Republican base is enthused about.”

Trump has repeatedly attacked MSNBC over its coverage of him, accusing its leaders of treasonous behavior and suggesting recently some networks be taken off the air.

MSNBC has made a point of not carrying Trump’s remarks live, citing what Maddow called a journalistic responsibility to the truth during its coverage of the Iowa caucuses last week.

Trump is the front-runner for the Republican nomination for president in 2024.