Anti-Trump Conservatives Have Public Meltdown After Trump Takes Indiana Primary

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

Following GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s Indiana primary win, anti-Trump conservative commentators declared that the impending Trump nomination signaled an inevitable loss for Republicans in the general election and the end of the Republican Party.

Donald Trump Wins Indiana Primary

NY Times: “Donald Trump Wins Indiana In A Crushing Blow To Ted Cruz.” Donald Trump won the Indiana Republican presidential primary on May 3, defeating opponent Ted Cruz and coming within striking distance of securing the nomination:

Donald J. Trump won Indiana’s Republican primary on Tuesday, moving him closer to claiming the party’s presidential nomination and delivering a devastating blow to Senator Ted Cruz and other Republicans hoping to stop him.

Mr. Cruz had pinned his hopes on Indiana, which seemed to offer one of his best chances to deny Mr. Trump the delegates needed to secure the nomination before the party convention in July.

But Mr. Trump, after obliterating his rivals in five states in the Northeast last week, held a strong polling lead in the state, which had 57 delegates up for grabs.

Mr. Trump’s victory puts him in a commanding position to clinch the nomination on June 7, when the last Republican contests are held. [The New York Times, 5/3/16]

Conservative Media Figures Bemoan Trump’s Indiana Victory As The End Of The Republican Party And America

Ben Shapiro: “Fox News Just Called Indiana. Conservatives Just Called America.”

[Twitter, 5/3/16]

Matt Walsh: “Goodbye, Republican Party.”

[Twitter, 5/3/16]

Federalist’s Sean Davis: “Donald Trump Won The IN Primary, But The Real Winner Tonight Is Hillary Clinton.” 

[Twitter, 5/3/16]

Erick Erickson: “I Don’t Want To Congratulate Hillary Clinton On Winning The Presidency Tonight, But She Just Did.”

[Twitter, 5/3/16]

National Review’s Charles C. W. Cooke: “Madam President.”

[Twitter, 5/3/16]

RedState’s Ben Howe: Cruz Can Drop Out, “The Rest Of Us Will Still Be Working To Defeat You All The Way To November.”

[Twitter, 5/3/16]

Guy Benson: “Good Work, Team. #MadamPresident #Vom.”

[Twitter, 5/3/16]

S.E. Cupp: “Anybody Know Where The Nearest Meeting Is” For Anti-Trump Grievers?

[Twitter, 5/3/16]

Ben Shapiro: “You're A Conspiratorial Piece Of Progressive Refuse With Fewer Brain Cells Than Your Average Supporter Has Teeth.”

[Twitter, 5/3/16] 

Kristen Soltis Anderson: “Not Sure What 'Republican' Means Today.”

[Twitter, 5/3/16]

Wash. Examiner's Philip Klein: "I Have Officially De-Registered As A Republican."

[Twitter, 5/3/16]

Conservative Radio Host Steve Deace: I'm “Right Behind” Philip Klein In De-Registering As A Republican.

[Twitter, 5/3/16]

Washington Free Beacon's Lachlan Markay Tweets Picture Of Him Burning Republican Voter Registration.

 [Twitter, 5/3/16] 

Charles Krauthammer: “I Am Resigned. I'm Realistic.” On the May 3 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, Charles Krauthammer responded that he wasn't “angry” at Trump's victory, but was “resigned” and “realistic” about his impending nomination: 

BILL O'REILLY (HOST): The conservative establishment in Washington -- Are they angry that Trump has got it?

CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: My answer is I have no idea what the so-called establishment, if it exists, is thinking. I can tell you what I'm thinking. Do I look angry? 

O'REILLY: No. You look very mellow tonight, Charles. But I think you are tired. 

KRAUTHAMMER: Let's put it as I am resigned. I'm realistic. [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 5/3/16]