UT Austin History professor H.W. Brands points out that if Republicans don’t want to go through the mess of impeaching Trump, but do want to distance themselves, they could kick him out of the Republican party.
This will never, never happen.
However, it has happened before – when the Whigs booted “His Accidency,” President Tyler. Washed their hands of him, said “not our fault,” and left him a president without a party. His whole cabinet resigned (except American folk hero Daniel Webster, who was off negotiating a treaty with Britain. This was before the 25th Amendment.) Brands’ summary of that event (in The Hill) is delightful.