#ILeftTheGOP Trends as Former Republicans Share Why They 'Cut the Cord' With the Party

Thousands of people have taken to Twitter to explain why they stopped supporting the Republican Party using the hashtag #ILeftTheGOP.

The topic was among the top trends on Monday morning as users posted their reasons for leaving the party, with many placing the blame on President Donald Trump.

The hashtag took off after columnist Cheri Jacobus tweeted that she left the party in 2016 as they nominated Trump and asked others to share when they "cut the cord."

Author Susan Bragwell described how she left the GOP when they became the "bootlicking, compromised, spineless, faithless, big government lackeys and cultists for an immoral, inept, would-be mob boss."

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She added: "#ILeftTheGOP because they no longer represent me or my values as a Christian or a conservative. They're p***y-grabbing, lying, hateful, immoral weasels. I'm a happy Independent, now. No party owns my vote. It has to be EARNED!"

Radio host and comedian Dean Obeidallah said: "Trump is the GOP and GOP is Trump. Supporting Trump means you support Trump's cruel demeaning of women who have been abused, his demonization of Muslims and continued use of anti-Semitic tropes, his anti-LGBTQ policies, his hateful comments about Blacks and Latinos. Donald Trump not only self-impeached himself, he's now self-removing himself with his lies."

Love that this trending. I was a college republican, local committee member, & worked on local, state & national campaigns for republicans. I made a promise that if Trump was the nominee I’d leave. I am now proudly a registered Democrat standing w/ the constitution. #ILeftTheGOP — Matthew K. Pelkey (@MatthewPelkey) January 27, 2020

#ILeftTheGOP when it gave into all its worst instincts and completely capitulated to Trump. I was already pretty moderate, but I want no part of a party with no scruples and no interest in serving the interests of US Citizens and immigrants who aren’t white. — Anthony Cole (@thoughtsfrmhead) January 27, 2020

#ILeftTheGOP because of Trump....this isn't the party I voted for anymore....idk if I will ever go back. — Peter Mitchell (@RadioMaverick24) January 27, 2020

#ILeftTheGOP when Trump called Mexicans rapists, insulted a disabled reporter, and then everyone kowtowed to him regardless. My decision was reaffirmed by Access Hollywood, Charlottesville, Helsinki, and North Korea — Christian Thrailkill (@Wolvie616) January 27, 2020

#ILeftTheGOP after 30 years when I saw the GOP’response to Trump’s Helsinki performance. I did NOT vote for Trump, and will never vote Republican again. I am now, and always will be, a Democrat. The corrupt GOP has lost all semblance of credibility and strength. — I Hate His Ass (@145Mainstreet) January 27, 2020

Trump comes into office. Rips down every clean air, water, financial regulation. Blows up global agreements. Starts trade wars with allies. Passes budget doubling 1% tax cut. Pulls out of Syria. Bombs Iran. Divides nation with reality TV show elimination governing #ILeftTheGOP — ♻️🇺🇸 Christopher Zullo (@ChrisJZullo) January 27, 2020

#ILeftTheGOP in June 2016 when it became clear Donald Trump -- a vile racist, a pathological liar, a narcissist, an unrepentant sexual abuser, a criminal and a fraud -- would become the nominee.

Maybe I should have left the party sooner. — Steve Garufi (@SteveGarufi) January 27, 2020

#ILeftTheGOP when I realized a narcissist was the nomination and the GOP kept supporting his and other republican’s bad behavior. — Erika E. Port 👩🏻‍💻 (@ErikaEPort) January 27, 2020

Stand-up performer Craig Shoemaker described how he left the GOP a while ago. "Flew away when I saw behind the curtain of greed & deceit was on another level from Dems. But once they abandoned all integrity & values by offering blind support to@realDonaldTrump, it became a 1 way ticket."

Others used specific examples of Trump's behaviour or conduct to say why they left the party, including his endorsement of Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore who at the time was facing several allegations of sex offenses against underage girls.

#ILeftTheGOP over the response to Roy Moore. I hadn't voted for Trump, but until that point, hoped those within the party would reign him in. It was obvious then that wouldn't happen. And I refused to be a part of it. I grew up GOP, and had only ever voted GOP before that. — Christiana Doucette (@doucette515) January 27, 2020

Others described how they left the GOP several years ago, citing reasons such as John McCain choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate during the 2008 election campaign, and one user who left in 2014 accusing the party of being "dominated by bigots and religious fanatics."

#ILeftTheGOP in 2012 when I realized the party was a puppet for corporate socialism & became independent. I realized in 2016 the party also supports racism and divides America instead of bringing us together. Not going back. — Dad, 🧢 Entrepreneur, Educator & #YangGang (@B12Business) January 27, 2020

#ILeftTheGOP when they stopped supporting science and neglected their core conservative values about the environment. President Bush Is The First President To Provide Federal Funding For Embryonic Stem Cell Research in 2001 as an example of pro-science. — Kat (@katdeyvia) January 27, 2020

#ILefttheGOP on February 3, 2008 when I heard the most energizing presidential candidate in history speak. https://t.co/BPH2rySdii — Bonnie Parker jr. (@TheFoxyMarketer) January 27, 2020

#ILeftTheGOP in 2008, when 20 to 30 eighteen to twenty-five-year-olds were dying every week in Iraq. They ran their names, ranks, and ages every Sunday on ABC. Who knows how many Iraquis died, some bad guys and some lovely, everyday people. I don't know. It sucked. — Bob (@Bob51235923) January 27, 2020

#ileftthegop after Nixon. Reagan, the smiling actor who ran for office on racist dog-whistles, while promising wealth to the oligarchs, solidified that Eisenhower Republicanism was long dead and gone. — Risky Liberal (@RiskyLiberal) January 27, 2020

#ILeftTheGOP in 2008 when the Tea Party took control and McCain picked Sarah Palin as his running mate. It was the final straw. — Eilish Palmer (@eilishp) January 27, 2020

#ILeftTheGOP petty shortly after the Bush administration co-opted the goodwill our country had after 9/11 to make the faulty case for war with Iraq using obviously false pretenses. The neo conservative movement has only begotten worse and worse GOP politicians since. — red_cable (@paul_eubanks) January 27, 2020

Twitter user @tiedtoanight wrote that they left the GOP in 2016 having voted for Democratic president Barack Obama in 2012.

"Leaving the GOP had been a long process for me as I was raised in a conservative household. I keep telling myself this isn't the GOP I voted for in the past but maybe it is. Maybe I was just blind. I'm not anymore," @tiedtoanight wrote.

According to a January Gallup poll, 27 percent of Americans consider themselves a Republican over a Democrat or Independent, down from 28 percent in December 2019 and 30 percent in November.

Over the past 16 years of Gallup surveys, the highest number of people who said they consider themselves Republican was in September 2004, when 39 percent said they align with the party under George W. Bush's administration.

In a statement to Newsweek, Republican National Committee spokesperson Mandi Merritt said: "Thanks to his historic record of results and ability to appeal to a broad coalition of voters, President Trump continues to bring in new members to the Party of opportunity. Not to mention, impeachment continues to backfire on Democrats and fire up voters toward President Trump and the Republican movement.

"Since this sham began, we've seen over 600,000 new donors join our movement and over 100,000 new volunteers join our efforts to defeat Democrats up and down the ballot in November."