Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu offered insight into how President-elect Donald Trump could capitalize on political momentum in the early months of his presidency, suggesting that the Democratic Party lacks strong leadership, which could create opportunities for Trump and the Republican Party.
Sununu, typically a centrist Republican who has critiqued Trump in the past, believes that the next two to six months could be critical for the president-elect to secure significant wins, with the political environment favoring Republican initiatives due to the current disarray in the Democratic Party.
Sununu also highlighted that Trump could act on certain issues without Congress’s help, such as brokering peace deals in the Middle East or addressing the war in Ukraine, which he views as “ripe” for resolution given the exhaustion on both sides of the conflict. He also advised Trump to focus on passing smaller bills to establish a track record of legislative action, rather than pushing for one large, comprehensive bill.
Despite his backing of Trump, Sununu suggested that there is still room for internal Republican criticism, citing Trump’s nomination of former Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general as an example where Trump’s decisions should be scrutinized within the party.
Additionally, Sununu noted that Trump’s inauguration on January 20 would coincide with challenges in California, as Gov. Gavin Newsom invited the president-elect to visit the state, which is dealing with devastating wildfires displacing many residents.