https://research-books.com/michele-tafoya/Trump
Much in this post overlaps what Strib wrote [published but paywalled]
This item.
After urging Trump not to run for President again in 2022, Tafoya swung like a weathervane into full Trump loyalist mode. Tafoya began exalting Trump, saying she was “wrong” to criticize him. After she embarked on her run for US Senate, Tafoya spoke glowingly about the prospect of receiving his endorsement. She applauded his administration's “accomplishments” and stood with Trump in support of his brutal immigration crackdown. She even hedged on whether Trump or Biden won the 2020 election.
Tafoya Sucked Up To Trump And Towed The MAGA Line
Tafoya Repeatedly Criticized Trump And Urged Him Not To Run For President Again
Washington Examiner: Michele Tafoya’s Past Trump Criticism Resurfaces As Minnesota Senate Race Takes Shape [Washington Examiner, 12/24/25]
In 2016, Tafoya Repeatedly Donated To Marco Rubio For President, While Giving Nothing To Trump. According to the Washington Examiner, “If Tafoya runs, her long record of publicly breaking with Trump is likely to receive renewed attention. During the 2016 Republican presidential primary, Tafoya backed Secretary of State Marco Rubio over Trump and made repeated donations to Rubio’s campaign while giving nothing to Trump, according to Federal Election Commission records.” [Washington Examiner, 12/24/25]
In 2022, Tafoya Urged Trump Not To Run For President Again, Citing His Age, January 6, And National Division. According to the Washington Examiner, “Her criticism intensified in 2022, when Tafoya published a lengthy open letter on her Substack urging Trump not to run for president again. In that piece, she described his politics as messy during his first term and said they descended into absolute mayhem after his 2020 loss. She warned that another Trump campaign would be dominated by his age, a relitigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, and a deepening of national division, arguing that the country needed a break from both Trump and former President Joe Biden.” [Washington Examiner, 12/24/25]
Tafoya Repeatedly Characterized Trump As Divisive And Said Many Voters Were Exhausted By Political Chaos. According to the Washington Examiner, “In the letter and in subsequent interviews, Tafoya repeatedly characterized Trump as divisive and said many voters were exhausted by political chaos. She suggested Republicans rally around alternative leaders without Trump’s baggage, naming Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Rubio, Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), and others. That same year, she told Minnesota outlet KARE 11 that a Trump comeback would bring renewed chaos, and on Tomi Lahren’s show, she said she preferred DeSantis for the 2024 GOP nomination because he lacked Trump’s extra baggage. Tafoya also posted on social media, urging Trump to sit out the race and shared commentary amplifying criticism from officials like former Attorney General Bill Barr and Haley during the 2024 primary.” [Washington Examiner, 12/24/25]
In March 2025, Tafoya Publicly Faulted The Trump Administration Over Signalgate. According to the Washington Examiner, “Tafoya’s criticism extended beyond the campaign trail. As recently as March 2025, she publicly faulted the Trump administration over reports that senior officials discussed war plans on an unclassified chat, known as ‘Signalgate,’ calling it an unforced error that handed ammunition to critics.” [Washington Examiner, 12/24/25]
Tafoya Walked Back Her Criticism Of Trump
Tafoya Said Her Criticism Of Trump Was “Wrong” And That Only Trump Could “Achieve All The Things He Has Achieved.” According to the Washington Examiner, “That posture has since shifted. Appearing on Fox News’s Gutfeld on Dec. 15, Tafoya addressed her earlier opposition directly and said she had been wrong to urge Trump to step aside. ‘I had my own little Trump protest back in 2022,’ she said, referencing her Substack letter. ‘I didn’t think he should run again … because I thought we needed a more conventional kind of candidate. Clearly, I was wrong.’ She argued that Trump’s unconventional approach was precisely what made his presidency effective. ‘Only a non-traditional, disruptive candidate like Donald Trump could achieve all the things he has achieved,’ Tafoya said, pointing to outcomes she credited to Trump, including border enforcement, lower inflation, gas prices, and foreign policy developments. ‘Those things were accomplished because he works his a** off every single day.’” [Washington Examiner, 12/24/25]
Tafoya Said “If I Should Seek This Office, I Will Work With The President To Crack Down On Rampant Fraud In Minnesota, Protect The Integrity Of Women’s Sports, And Lower The Cost Of Living In Every Minnesota Community.” According to the Washington Examiner, “In a statement to the Washington Examiner, Tafoya emphasized that she now supports Trump’s presidency and said she would work with him if elected. ‘Just recently, I spoke about my support of President Trump on Gutfeld! and where I stand on his presidency,’ Tafoya said. ‘If I should seek this office, I will work with the President to crack down on rampant fraud in Minnesota, protect the integrity of women’s sports, and lower the cost of living in every Minnesota community.’” [Washington Examiner, 12/24/25]
Tafoya Sought Trump’s Endorsement
Tafoya Said That She Would Be “Honored” To Have Trump’s Endorsement. According to Fox News, “Tafoya joins a crowded GOP Senate primary field that already includes 2024 Senate nominee Royce White, a former NBA basketball player; retired U.S. Navy officer Tom Weiler, a 2022 GOP congressional nominee; former state Senator David Hann and former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze. Minnesota's primary isn't until August, and Trump has remained neutral to date in the race. Tafoya said she ‘would be honored to have the endorsement of the President, for sure, but this is going to take me winning over Minnesotans, first and foremost.’” [Fox News, 1/21/26]
[...] Tafoya Said That She Was “Wrong” About Trump In The Past And That She Would Be “Honored” To Get His Endorsement. According to the Washington Examiner, “Tafoya acknowledged that she’s been critical of Trump in the past, at one point penning a 2022 Substack that urged him not to run again for president, but said that today, she agrees with a ‘lot of the results and the goals that he is shooting for.’ ‘I’m glad I was wrong,’ Tafoya said, putting herself in the camp of Republicans whose views of Trump have ‘evolved.’
The item is quite longer so read it for the full analysis.
Who knows. Perhaps a Tafoya warming will show up toward big-buck parton selling, but in fairness, she's not yet said so, either way, as if it is inconsequential. She'd rather discuss boys in girls locker rooms.
If you want it come and get it but you'd better hurry cause it's going fast. Big buck pardon sales are likely to end Jam 20, 2029. After the 2028 Presidential vote, the day the new Democrat winner will be sworn in.
[Yes, that is discounting Marco and JD as Trump-lite, spoiled goods. Why not? Who else? Cruz? Paxton? An unknown MAGA, from the crowd? MTG? Don Jr.? Jarad? Hegseth? Bessent? Ivanka? Susan Collins? A Jan-6 Proud Boy retread? Tom Emmer (worse than a sincere Jan-6 retread)? Emmer, the man from Crypto Guardrail land, a place of praise, love and trust?
Perhaps, Tafoya in 2028, with Aaron Rogers on the ticket second spot. He does have an actual skill set. In her past incarnation, you quickly learned to like what gave you the best chance of winning. No matter what else. Something you could see from the sideline. You try your best win or lose. She is trying hard. Lacking a skill set, but well spoken, well funded, she tries. A waffle is better than Stephen Miller, but try taking that to the bank.
Enough.