George Conway, once a supporter of President-elect Trump but now a vocal critic, expressed in an Atlantic op-ed that America is responsible for its current predicament.
Reflecting on the past, Conway acknowledged that in 2016, Trump’s followers could at least claim ignorance about the full extent of his character. Many assumed the presidency, with its institutional checks, would restrain Trump’s behavior.
However, Conway argued that, after the events of the 2020 election and the Capitol attack, Americans had a clearer picture of Trump’s true nature. In his op-ed, he insisted there was “no excuse” this time, noting that Trump’s rhetoric—including violent fantasies and criminal accusations—had thoroughly exposed his disregard for lawful conduct.
Following the declaration of Trump’s re-election by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ early Wednesday, as results showed victories across key battleground states, Conway shared his disappointment.
Despite campaigning with the Anti-Psychopath PAC in support of Vice President Harris, he now contends that the nation’s “only hope” lies in Trump’s “utter incompetence.”
For Conway, this election confirmed what he believed Americans should have understood all along: Trump, in his view, is devoid of conscience and morality, possessing no respect for the laws or Constitution. He went on to write that Trump epitomizes what Americans should avoid and warns against his influence on the nation’s values.
Conway expressed sorrow rather than anger, admitting he had believed Harris would prevail. Calling this hope an “emotional flaw,” he confessed to misjudging the willingness of the electorate to reject Trump.
Conway urged Americans to prepare for what he described as an impending “profound degradation” in governance, admitting he felt disillusioned by his faith in people’s better judgment.