Republicans Face Crossroads After Trumpism Bet Backfires

The Republican Party faces an uncertain future after a historic midterm defeat, with internal divisions emerging over how to move beyond the influence of President Donald Trump and his political movement. The party must now chart a path forward without the weight of Trump 2.0. Vice President JD Vance attributed the loss solely to the war with Iran, while Trump claimed the result would have differed had he been on the ballot. Vance faced criticism for defending ally Vivek Ramaswamy's controversial ad in Ohio, with rivals like Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeing Latino voter support erode significantly. Strategist Karl Rove said the party entered a dead end by betting fully on Trumpism, noting reinvention will be slow but inevitable. With Trump's disapproval near 65%, candidates may need to distance themselves from the administration in future primaries.