‘Trump exhaustion syndrome’ exacting a toll on his supporters after indictment: ex-Trump official

A Republican operative who’s backing Ron DeSantis said Friday that the cumulative effect of Donald Trump’s ongoing legal troubles is damaging the former president’s political standing in a way that’s not showing up in the polls.

Ken Cuccinelli, a former Trump official who founded the pro-DeSantis “Never Back Down” super PAC, said grassroots voters, including many who support the former president, have told him they’re tiring of the former president’s ongoing drama.

Cuccinelli expressed criticism of Trump during an appearance on NBC News Now’s “Meet The Press Now” on Friday, and was asked why the candidate he supports hasn’t expressed similar views about the former president.

“Well, the way you ask it is sort of binary,” Cuccinelli said.

“I would say that it is an important factor for an awful lot of folks, and I've traveled to a lot of states already and talked to a lot of grassroots folks and grassroots leaders who don't appreciate the drama.”

Cuccinelli suggested DeSantis offers a more focused approach to public policy than his former boss.

“This is not a plus for the (former) president, and when you compare it to Governor DeSantis’ much more effective governing style in Florida, that is a stark contrast, and it weighs very heavily in the governor's favor on with ordinary voters,” Cuccinelli said.

“You've heard of Trump derangement syndrome, there's also 'Trump exhaustion syndrome,' and that's among many of us who have or had supported him," he added.