GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger fought Trump for the soul of his party. Trump won.

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While the Republican Party continues to purge and cannibalize, President Joe Biden’s administration strives to be a presidency for all Americans. In fact, in the same week Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., An outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump, that he will not be re-elected, the Senate confirmed Biden’s appointments to former U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake and Cindy McCain as ambassadors within his administration. Prominent Trump critics, Biden endorsers and Arizonans, Flake and McCain were frequent targets of Trump during his presidency and throughout the 2020 campaign.

Flake noted this summer that his nomination “reaffirms the best tradition of American foreign policy and diplomacy: the creed that partisan politics must stop at the water’s edge.” Added, “US foreign policy can and should be two parties.” I agree.

Although the GOP blindly allows Trump to remain its leader, the former president has taken on the undisputed role of kingmaker.

While the GOP blindly allows Trump to remain its leader, the former president has taken on the undisputed role of kingmaker and pushed an agenda designed to remove from the GOP any elected official or candidate who openly criticizes him. Clearly, Trump, the Trump machine and his influence should not be underestimated. Clearly Trump continues to push the narrative at his rallies that the election was stolen. And he gives endorsements to candidates supporting these baseless statements.

Not surprisingly, Trump critics like Kinzinger have found themselves in hot water with the Republican leadership. And Kinzinger wasn’t the only one killed: We’ve seen this same cycle play out with other Republicans like Flake, Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, former Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, Ohio Rep. Anthony Gonzalez and Nebraska Sen. I’m Sasse. All of these outright lawmakers have been punished, such as by removing their leadership roles or Trump endorsing candidates that would make their re-election nearly impossible or social media harassment tactics.

While it is unfortunate to see these elected officials attacked and pushed out of a party that desperately — and courageously — they tried to organize, it should also serve as a final wake-up call for leadership: The GOP is no longer the GOP of Bushes, Ronald Reagan, Mitt Romney and John McCain. This is now Trump’s party. The GOP was once a party rooted in “country first,” but now it puts one person’s political ambitions above all else. While anti-democratic violence on Jan. 6 should have led to a clean Republican break with Trump, the party has instead doubled its support. Even today, Republicans have pledged allegiance to the flags from that day.

But what can be said to be even more troubling is the lack of departure of men and women like Kinzinger. Who will be left to criticize and speak?

While I am glad that some former Trump critics are finding homes within the Biden administration, I can only hope that they will continue to use their positions, platform and voice to fight the ills and efforts of a party. turn away from them.

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As the Republican leadership welcomed Trump, they showed their true colors. These heartless cowards embraced a proud despot and forsook their guiding principles for false idols. Trump’s hijacking of the Republican Party, which has not and never has been a true Republican, will hurt the party in years to come and ensure its position on the wrong side of history.

Ashley Pratte Oates, an Independent and former Republican, is a communications strategist and a board member of Republican Women for Progress (which endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020). He was previously director of media relations and a consultant for Better for America.

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