“If we idolize one person, we will lose,” Cassidy told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.” “And that’s kind of clear from the last election.”
The Louisiana Republican said he believes the Republican Party should be focusing on issues that can win back voters, not Trump.
“If we plan to win in 2022 and 2024, we have to listen to the voters. Not just those who really like President Trump, but perhaps those who are less sure,” he said. “If we speak to the voters who are less sure that went from President Trump to President Biden, we win. If we don’t, we lose. That is a reality that we have to confront.”
Trump is slated to address activists Sunday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, as he seeks to shape the future of the party and target Republicans he views as disloyal.
Trump will deliver a Sunday afternoon speech — one in which he is expected to continue to falsely claim that the presidential election was stolen — that will mark his first public comments since leaving the White House.
Asked by Bash if he would support Trump if he were the GOP nominee in 2024, Cassidy responded that he doesn’t think Trump will be the nominee, bringing up his age — he would be 78 in 2024 — and the priorities of voters.
“I don’t think he’ll be our nominee for the reasons we said,” Cassidy said.
When pushed by Bash on whether he believes Trump is fit to be President, Cassidy responded, “I don’t mean to duck, but you can ask me if a lot of people are fit, point is I don’t think he will be our nominee for all the reasons I described.”