Maryland governor: GOP trying to appease Trump in "circular firing squad"

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) criticized his party leadership's loyalty to former President Trump on "Meet the Press" Sunday, saying the GOP has becoming a "circular firing squad."

Why it matters: Hogan, a Trump critic, and said many Republicans are wary of criticizing the former president for fear of "retaliation" from Trump or the GOP, as House Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) has experienced.

• The debate over Trump's post-election hold on the GOP has gotten stronger since the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol, write Axios' Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei.

What they're saying: “It bothers me you have to swear fealty to the dear leader or you get kicked out of the party. It just doesn’t make any sense,” Hogan said.

• "It’s sort of a circular firing squad where we’re just attacking members of our own party instead of focusing on solving problems, or standing up and having an argument, that we can debate the Democrats on some of the things the Biden administration is pushing through.”

Go deeper: Pollster Frank Luntz says Trump may cost GOP the House in 2022