An ex-GOP lawmaker came clean on what it's like to work for "toxic" President Donald Trump — and what he believes is happening behind the scenes among Republicans.
Former Rep. David Trott (R-MI), in an opinion piece published in The Daily Beast on Tuesday, wrote about why the Republican majority is falling apart — and the difficult position Trump has put it in.
"Republicans in particular have an untenable choice—stand up to President Trump’s unconstitutional actions or fall in line and accomplish nothing," Trott wrote.
Trott described his experience in Congress during Trump's first term 10 years ago.
"Most of my peers were more capable and intelligent than the media portrayed them, although the place was completely dysfunctional. It still is. And it’s gotten worse. More toxic. The focus is on winning—i.e., beating the other party—and playing the blame game, not solving problems," Trott wrote.
He now sees a different problem for his Republican colleagues.
"Members I have kept in touch with are miserable, and the deplorable state of affairs in our Capitol today is certainly a driving factor behind many recent lawmakers’ resignations," he wrote. "One senior Republican recently told Punchbowl that 'his entire White House team has treated ALL members like garbage... And Mike Johnson has let it happen because he wanted it to happen.'”
Referring to the president as "King Trump," Trott reveals how the situation has worsened.
"I was there during some of his first term, yes, but Trump was not as adept at abusing his power back then—I can’t imagine serving today just waiting for him to tell me what to do or how to vote," Trott explained.
Bipartisanship and focusing on results could help lawmakers get out of the situation, but Trott does not expect it to improve anytime soon, especially while the focus for GOP leaders appears to be job security and not serving the American public.
"Let’s be clear, Trump’s executive branch is being run by a bunch of sycophants, felons, and idiots. (Well, former felons—they’ve all been pardoned.) Break the law, go to prison, cut a check, and become a special advisor to the president—what a great country we live in! The Senate confirmed Trump’s picks for key Cabinet roles, ambassadorships, and many more positions of power with blind loyalty being the only criterion," Trott added.