Trump’s got Republican governors right where he wants them — obeying in advance • Nevada Current

“With my background in law enforcement, I can attest that reform is long overdue at the FBI,” Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo wrote on Elon Musk’s website last week.

“I look forward to hearing Mr. Patel’s ideas for the Bureau,” Lombardo added.

Ah, said by a true MAGA believer eager to see all those federal officials, er, corrupt deep state “government gangsters,” as Kash Patel calls them, lock-her-upped where they belong.

For the record, the rule of “law” — a word, when followed by “enforcement,” in which Lombardo likes to drape himself — is exactly what will be imperiled if Patel is in charge of the FBI. 

Patel has already published an enemies list of people he has declared guilty and is eager to punish (it includes several of Lombardo’s fellow Republicans), and the FBI Trump wants Patel to lead hasn’t even investigated them yet – or if it has, has found nothing warranting charges.

So Lombardo invoking his “background in law enforcement” while embracing someone of Patel’s performative, extra-legal, and not merely heavily biased but extremely radicalized temperament as FBI director is … hmm, what’s the word?… eh, let’s go with gross.

It’s not hard to believe Lombardo would be smelling the vengeance and retribution Patel is cooking though.

“Let’s talk about how the FBI had no business searching Mar-a-Lago. They shouldn’t have been there,” Lombardo said after the FBI went to Trump’s house because Trump repeatedly lied to the FBI and said he couldn’t return classified documents that weren’t his to have because he didn’t have them, except he did.

Then again, Lombardo’s enthusiasm for turning the FBI into a national politsiya devoted to serving a vengeful old man instead of a nation might not be ideological, or even political, but merely occupational.

As the Clark County sheriff, Lombardo tangled with the FBI for years while the agency was investigating allegations that Metro detectives were in cahoots with pimps (which brings to mind Lombardo’s fondness for the phrase “the Nevada Way”). 

Governors, their states, and Trump 2.0

Be all that as it may, Lombardo is confronting the same circumstances as every other relatively high-ranking Republican official in the U.S. these days: Fear of committing some transgression,  even if unintentionally or unwittingly, that will make MAGA HQ primary them.

As Trump’s inauguration looms, it would be all too understandable if Lombardo, who is up for reelection in 2026, is worried about that.

Asked to confirm a report that he would use his fabulous Musky riches to financially back primary challengers to Republican members of Congress who didn’t support Trump’s cabinet appointments, Musk in November said “How else? There is no other way.”

Congressional Republicans are currently in the spotlight, as the nation (or at least the parts of it that haven’t tuned out) watches to see if they will dare show respect for themselves and for the Congress in which they serve by putting the public good ahead of Trump, or just obediently do whatever Trump (and Musk) says.

But Trump (and Musk, depending on how long they manage to stomach each other and remain BFFs before one of them orders Patel to imprison the other one) will be asking Republican governors to also bend the knee, kiss the whatever, and enthusiastically shout “how high” whenever Trump (or Musk) says “jump.” 

Or else.

And so in a powerful expression of full-throated anticipatory obedience that screamed “please don’t primary us – we will do whatever you say!” Lombardo and a couple dozen other Republican governors this week vowed to support Trump’s mass deportation fever dream by calling up the National Guard if asked. 

Nothing shows Trump-era gubernatorial respect and regard for one’s constituents like ordering residents of one’s state to round up and detain their friends and their neighbors and their fellow residents so they can be separated from their families and shipped off to an open-air prison in Texas.

Gov. Igor

Meanwhile, it’s a little curious that of all the outlandish charlatans, quacks, and frauds Trump has tapped for high-profile positions, Lombardo has publicly singled out Patel. 

Why no stately praise for dog-killing Homeland Security nominee – and fellow Republican governor! –  Kristi Noem of whichever state she’s from that has the word Dakota in it? 

Why no solemn and authoritative gubernatorial approval for the Interior Department nominee – and fellow Republican governor! – Doug Burgum from that other state that has the word Dakota in it? 

For that matter, if Lombardo really wanted to impress Trump (and Musk), he could issue a statement avowing that as an Army veteran, he can attest that reform is long overdue, so he looks forward to hearing accused rapist, extreme drinker, and financial mismanagement expert Pete Hegseth’s ideas for the Defense Department. 

But no. As this is written (and unless I missed it), his love note to Patel is Lombardo’s only public pronouncement about Trump’s gag bag of selections for cabinet offices and other high-ranking positions. 

Lombardo doesn’t have to hold his nose and vote to confirm any of the screwballs, crooks, and liars Trump has vomited up to be in his cabinet. There’s no reason for Lombardo to stick his neck out and say anything about Patel or any of them.

But ‘tis the season for virtually every Republican who has been elected to a more-or-less high profile office (for argument’s sake let’s say governor of Nevada is one of those) to make servile nods to Trump. Lombardo, going with his default move (the cop thing), chose Patel.

Any warm overtures to Trump are especially appropriate in Lombardo’s case. 

Lombardo once committed what could be considered a mortal sin by many MAGA folk, by saying he wouldn’t consider Trump a “great” president. 

Trump immediately had minions order Lombardo to issue a statement declaring Trump the greatest being ever to trod the earth or words to that effect, and Lombardo dutifully obeyed. 

But the damage had been done. And the whole unsavory episode is exactly the sort of thing that sticks in the noggin and earns the side-eye from the ever-paranoid and ultra-vindictive 45th and soon-to-be 47th president of the United States.

Alas, there is no schadenfreude (ok, maybe just a little) to indulge in while the governor of Nevada spends at least the next two years groveling before Trump like Igor before Dr. Frankenstein. 

Whether Lombardo’s devotion to Trump, Trump’s policies, and the people Trump has chosen to implement them is sincere or feigned is neither here nor there. Either way, the result could be painful, even brutal, for thousands upon thousands of Lombardo’s constituents.

Over his long background in law enforcement Lombardo is always quick to mention, he no doubt found himself in some tough spots, which on occasion probably required some courage, and even a willingness to sacrifice.

Everyone should hope the governor can draw on that going forward to make he sure puts the people of Nevada ahead of the leader of his party.