I served and admire Trump but he's now an albatross around Republican necks: CHRISTIAN WHITON

Christian Whiton was a senior advisor for strategic communications in the Trump State Department and an advisor to the Trump presidential transition team

If former President Donald Trump is truly willing to put America first, he won't run for president in 2024.

I write this as someone who admires Trump greatly, and who served on his presidential transition and in his administration.

I supported Trump wholeheartedly in the 2016 general election, and was an enthusiastic booster of his policies after I left the administration.

I was grateful for the economic revival Trump delivered before the world was upended by COVID. He changed the debate over trade policy, especially with China, beat ISIS, cut taxes, and nominated three people to the Supreme Court who believe the Constitution actually means what it says.

He changed the debate over illegal immigration and gave voice to Americans left behind by globalization.

Beyond that he redefined the Republican Party, essentially creating a New Right that is more appealing to blue collar workers and minorities, and no longer beholden to Wall Street.

Then he taught that movement how to fight, refusing to allow the propaganda media to set the rules of politics.

In his inaugural address, when he said, 'This American carnage stops right here and stops right now,' the mainstream media scoffed. They had no idea what he was talking about, but millions of Americans did. And we thank him for that.

But despite these accomplishments, Trump's time has past.

If he cares about the political movement he founded, he'll pass the torch to a new generation of conservatives, who are ready to lead -- now.

There are many reasons for Trump to step aside, but the most glaring is the lackluster performance of Republicans in Tuesday's midterm elections.

If he cares about the political movement he founded, he'll pass the torch to a new generation of conservatives, who are ready to lead -- now.

As vote counting continues, the GOP still has a narrow path to a Senate majority that relies on Republican challenger Adam Laxalt maintaining his slight lead in Nevada and on Hershel Walker winning a likely December 6 runoff in Georgia.

Slims odds of a modest majority are not exactly what Republicans had in mind as they barreled into Tuesday night.

More promising, Republicans seem on track to flip the House from Democrat to narrow GOP control, which would at least end what is left of President Joe Biden's legislative agenda.

However, this is a poor performance by historical standards.

It is true that Republicans faced an unfavorable Senate map and unexpected Republicans gains in the House in 2020, meant fewer easy targets in 2022. But these challenges do not explain the lack of anything resembling a red wave, especially with inflation at 40-year highs and an economy that is in or near recession.

What does explain the shortfall is Donald Trump.

Not all of Trump's picks for office were bad: JD Vance won handily in Ohio, preserving a Senate seat for the Republicans and replacing a retiring establishment officeholder with a young figure of the New Right.

But other choices, like Walker in Georgia and Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania were gifts to Democrats.

Neither man reflected the best of Trump: standing up for the forgotten man and skillfully using media to reach voters directly. Trump also inexplicably sat on perhaps $100 million in funds he raised to help other Republicans, which he cannot use on his own prospective campaign.

Beyond some bad candidates, the stink of Trump pervaded nationally.

Democrats successfully goaded him to indulge his fixation on irregularities in the 2020 election, and pushed many other Republican candidates, who felt compelled to echo Trump's musing, onto this unfavorable debate ground.

He has become an albatross around the neck of much of the party.

Walker in Georgia and Mehmet Oz (above) in Pennsylvania were gifts to Democrats.

The most notable exception to the mediocre Republican performance on Tuesday was Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis, who won office in a squeaker in 2018, achieved reelection with a nearly 20-point margin.

DeSantis has all of the upside of Trump without the baggage: he won over many independents and Democrats with an unapologetic record of economic growth and fighting woke radicalism.

DeSantis also knows how to talk past the progressive media in his state to reach voters directly, which is essential for any national Republican.

And at 44, he is member of Generation X, whose time it is to take the reins from the Boomer gerontocracy in Washington.

To those who say DeSantis is not ready or that he should wait his turn, I say: you're wrong.

Politics is about timing. And DeSantis' time is now as his star is rising.

But instead of embracing DeSantis, Trump has sought to undermine him.

Last Friday, Trump attempted to label him as 'Ron DeSanctimonious.' On Monday, Trump said, 'I think if [DeSantis] runs, he could hurt himself very badly… I don't think it would be good for the party.'

Most Republicans won't stand for this.

Trump obviously and rightly fears DeSantis and wants to harm him for his own self-interest.

In fact, Trump seems determined to get into the presidential race as fast as possible in the hope that it will somehow mitigate or prevent a potential federal criminal indictment related to possible obstruction of justice charges linked to the improper handling of classified documents.

Instead of embracing DeSantis, Trump has sought to undermine him.

After Tuesday's election, Trump continued the delusion.

He wrote that the election was 'A GREAT EVENING' and added that it was an 'Amazing job by some really fantastic candidates!'

The reality is that Trump's time has come and gone, and that he is a liability to his party and himself.

The most important takeaway from the Republicans' lackluster performance is that winning the presidency back from Democrats in 2024 is far from a sure thing.

We cannot start with a candidate hated by most of the country and who is clearly putting personal redemption and preservation ahead of his party and country.

Republicans can win with someone like DeSantis, but would lose with Trump, who could also face humiliation in the Republican primaries.

Thank you for your service, Donald. Your place in history is secure…if you retire now.