Breaking With Trump, Bacon Says He Won't Follow His Party 'Off the Cliff'

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NYT

The Nebraska Republican’s dissent makes him one of a disappearing breed in the G.O.P. — and suggests he may head for the exit.

By Annie Karni
Reporting from the Capitol

Published June 8, 2025Updated June 9, 2025, 1:06 a.m. ET

Representative Don Bacon, Republican of Nebraska, has publicly accused President Trump of treating Russia with “velvet gloves,” criticized him for gutting AmeriCorps and questioned his power to impose tariffs without congressional approval.

He has described Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of Signal to share sensitive military operations as “unacceptable.” And he was the sole House Republican to vote “no” on a bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” He said he thought it was stupid.

Mr. Bacon’s willingness to publicly disagree with the president makes him an anomaly in the tribal House Republican Conference, where members tend to fall in line behind Mr. Trump’s agenda and actively seek out ways to demonstrate their loyalty to him. In a Republican-led Congress that has been reluctant to challenge Mr. Trump on almost anything, the Nebraskan is among the last of a disappearing breed in his party. And his recent statements and actions strongly suggest he may be headed for the exit.

In an interview in his office last week, Mr. Bacon, at 61 serving his fifth term in Congress, would not say whether he voted for Mr. Trump last year. He also likened members of his party to people following someone off a cliff, compared himself to Winston Churchill speaking out against Adolf Hitler in the 1930s and criticized the billionaire tech tycoon Elon Musk, who has bankrolled many of his Republican colleagues.



Read more: http://archive.today/42gCi

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Original pay link: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/08/us/politics/breaking-with-trump-bacon-says-he-wont-follow-his-party-off-the-cliff.html

Don't believe him. He is Congressman for the Blue Dot. He won one of the closest House elections. He is scared. He voted FOR the budget!

[bucolic_frolic]

1. I think they're all twisted loons

They've been following the money so long they cannot distinguish between ideology, law, self-interest. They just follow what they are told the Boss wants and are engaged in creating the reality in his mind for him on television. It's all about feeding and fulfilling the delusion with illusion.

[Javaman]

2. he won't follow them off the cliff, until he does.

just another opportunist liar.

[FakeNoose]

3. Oh look ... it's a self-primarying Repuke! We need more of these

[travelingthrulife]

4. They are just saying these things to save face with their constituents.

Then they will vote for it anyway. Like MTG 'and other Reps suddenly discovering how bad the bill is. All theater.

[maccafan]

5. Not to be trusted

He has said things like this before and then backed down and followed his MAGA buddies in congress.

[BattleRow]

6. Will he truly bring home the Bacon?

Will he go whole hog this time?

[rubbersole]

8. He's still looking for that silk purse 👛 ...

[BattleRow]

9. Melania has been MIA...

[dchill]

7. Sure, whatever you say, Mr, uh, Churchill, is it?

[Jose Garcia]

10. Sounds like someone is going to lose his primary next year

Assuming that he runs.

[progressoid]

11. That's right.

He knows he's living on the edge of unemployment.

Tony Vargas should have been in that seat.