Trump has stated that the Civil War might have been resolved through negotiations

Former President Donald Trump recently speculated that the Civil War could have been averted through negotiation, suggesting that the conflict, which was fundamentally about ending slavery in the United States, might not have been necessary. Trump believed that Abraham Lincoln could have done more to prevent the extensive loss of life.

Trump’s remarks were made at a campaign event in Newton, Iowa, as the first-in-the-nation caucuses approach. He currently leads in the polls over his primary opponents, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

Interestingly, the Civil War has become a topic of discussion in the GOP primary trail. More than a week before Trump’s statement, Haley had answered a question about the Civil War’s cause without mentioning slavery, later clarifying that she assumed it was an understood fact.

Trump’s comments, which were not made in response to Haley’s, come despite historical attempts to negotiate a compromise before the Civil War. However, the issue of slavery in the South was too divisive for a compromise, leading to war. Trump did not detail how he would have prevented the conflict, which he described as “so horrible but so fascinating.”

In his speech, Trump expressed a peculiar fascination with the Civil War, mentioning the severe injuries soldiers endured and acknowledging the war as a difficult period for the country. He even implied that Lincoln might not be as revered historically if he had negotiated a settlement.

Liz Cheney, a former GOP Representative, criticized Trump’s perspective on social media, questioning how any Republican could defend such a stance. Cheney challenged Trump’s endorsers to justify his view on negotiating aspects of the Civil War, such as slavery or secession, or Lincoln’s decision to preserve the Union.

Lincoln is often hailed as a hero within the Republican Party for his role in preserving the Union and ending slavery, posing a contrast to Trump’s recent comments.