“Can We Just Have a Couple Years of Peace?”: GOP Insider’s Plea for Trump Sparks Tense CNN Debate

During a post-election analysis on CNN, longtime GOP strategist and commentator Scott Jennings made an impassioned appeal for unity, calling on Trump’s political opponents to allow President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican Party a “couple years of peace.” Jennings’ comments stirred up the panel, leading to a heated exchange with anti-Trump Republican Ana Navarro and other guests, who were quick to challenge the plea for a conflict-free presidency for Trump.

“The American people want this president and his administration and his party to make progress on the things they promised to do,” Jennings stated. “This is exactly what happened last time. They were plotting to impeach him before he ever took office back in 2016 – let us not have a replay of this. Can we just have a couple of years of peace for the Republicans and President Trump to do what they promised to do because the American people clearly are asking for it?”

Jennings’ plea, however, was met with swift backlash from Navarro, who took issue with his portrayal of Trump as deserving of a peaceful term after the events surrounding his refusal to concede the 2020 election and the subsequent Capitol riot. “Scott, I have to tell you that’s really rich though from a party and from Trump who for four years never even acknowledged that Joe Biden had won the election,” Navarro retorted, reminding the panel of Trump’s role in the insurrection attempt and refusal to cooperate with Biden’s presidency.

CNN host Erin Burnett chimed in, pointing out that Trump has yet to formally acknowledge Biden’s win, except for a slip during an interview with Joe Rogan. “He still hasn’t, except for when he said to Joe Rogan by accident,” Burnett commented, further underscoring the irony Navarro raised. The debate grew more heated when former Obama White House senior policy adviser Ashley Allison joined in, pointing to the Republican Party’s obstructionist tactics during the Obama administration.

Addressing Jennings, Allison argued, “It is so duplicitous, I feel like. I respect you, Scott, and you are my friend, but please do not sit here and say that Republicans, when Democrats are elected, just roll over.” Allison specifically referenced Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s efforts to block Obama’s agenda, including refusing to allow a vote on his Supreme Court nominee.

Allison’s comments underscored a broader frustration with the Republican Party’s approach to bipartisan cooperation, especially after years of steadfast opposition to Democratic administrations. For many in the panel, Jennings’ call for “peace” appeared as a double standard, given recent political history.

In response to the criticisms, Jennings held his ground and offered advice to the Democratic Party on handling the incoming administration. “My advice is if you go down this road and try to stop this government, which just won a mandate, you will pay the price in election after election,” he warned. Jennings insisted that “the American people are asking for progress” and urged Democrats to avoid tying up Trump’s presidency, giving him a chance to lead without interference.

Jennings’ call for a calm, uninterrupted term for Trump underscored a stark divide within the political landscape. For some, his comments represented a desire for a reset in a highly polarized era, but for others, they underscored a lack of accountability for past actions. The panel’s fiery exchange captured the ongoing debate over the future of bipartisan cooperation in America, as the country braces for a new chapter under Trump’s leadership.