"Never Trump" Republicans, amid foreign policy successes, are being forced to reconsider their 2016 positions, if not jump on board for support of the U.S. government and President Donald Trump in 2020, according to The Washington Post.
"I'm not comfortable with letters anymore," Patrick Cronin, an original "Never Trump" letter signatory – calling the then GOP-candidate "fundamentally dishonest" and "utterly unfitted to the office" – told the Post.
"I don't regret the letter in 2016; I thought it was the right thing to do. But I'm not writing or signing any letters in 2020. I'm not predicting the outcome of the election.
"I will be supporting the U.S. government."
Cronin, who was forced to withdraw an appointment by former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis because of Trump allies' opposition, joined other "Never Trump" signatories who attended a private Reagan Institute retreat in Beaver Creek, Co., to advocate for a "conservative internationalist" foreign policy, according to the report.
While the Trump administration is running low on candidates for positions, the president has been steadfast in holding his GOP critics accountable for their "Never Trump" letter signing – forcing them to reconsider their opposition in lieu of preserving their aligned foreign policy views, according to the Post.
"Certainly, with the president, I don't sense he's anywhere closer to that kumbaya moment," former National Security Council member under George W. Bush, and now Duke professor, Peter Feaver, told the Post. "It would probably take movement on both sides, but I don't see much evidence the White House wants to move."
Other "Never Trump" signatories are more regretful they have signed on to endless Trump opposition beyond the letter they originally signed, per the report.
"I didn't sign up for that," an anonymous retreat attendee told the Post. "I learned my lesson. I've sworn off ever signing another letter I didn't write."
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