(CNN) The Republican Party is ever closer to the destination to which it has long been headed under former President Donald Trump -- the legitimization of violence as a form of political expression. But appeasing Trump's culture of violence is not limited to the RNC. Trump clearly incited violence before the mob scene -- telling his supporters to "fight like hell" to convince Pence to block President Joe Biden's election victory. But his comment about the implications of Trump's continued anti-democratic behavior may have laid the battle lines for a future struggle inside the Republican Party itself. While Trump's ever more unhinged extremism could still destroy his comeback hopes, especially with a general election audience, events of the last few days show he remains the bedrock of the Republican Party.

Source: CNN February 08, 2022 05:59 UTC