‘He is kryptonite’: Republicans start breaking with Trump, tell me about this news in (https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/20/he-is-kryptonite-republicans-start-breaking-with-trump-01085159)

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However, the phrase describing Donald Trump as political “kryptonite” among certain Republicans has been a recurring theme raised by critics, moderate strategists, and primary rivals (such as during past primary cycles and challenging midterm elections). When this characterization is made in political reporting, it typically centers on several key arguments:

1. Suburban and Swing-District Vulnerability: Critics argue that Trump’s rhetoric and polarizing presence alienate independent, moderate, and suburban voters whose support is vital for Republicans running in competitive House and Senate districts.

2. Electoral Track Record: Factions within the GOP have pointed to past cycles where candidates closely aligned with Trump struggled or underperformed in battleground general elections compared to traditional or more moderate conservatives.

3. Down-Ballot Distraction: Lawmakers and candidates seeking separation from Trump often express concern that national controversies, legal challenges, and inflammatory remarks force down-ballot candidates to constantly defend top-of-the-ticket messaging rather than focusing on local issues, economic policy, and governing agendas.

Despite these recurrent concerns from moderate and anti-Trump wings of the party, Trump has consistently maintained a very strong, dominant hold over the core Republican grassroots base, which has historically limited the extent to which most GOP officials are willing to formally break with him.