'His new business': Trump seeks personal political brand as he grips Republican base

The ex-president has spent his time out of office attacking Republicans who dare to criticize him - and it could cause trouble for the party in the midterms

Days after being acquitted in his second impeachment trial last month, Donald Trump issued a statement lashing out against one of the very Republican senators who made that acquittal possible.

The Republican party can never again be respected or strong with political leaders' like Senator Mitch McConnell at its helm," the former president said in a statement, after the Republican leader criticized him for inciting the 6 January insurrection at the Capitol. Trump added: Mitch is a dour, sullen and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again."