'GOP may get a spine': Ex-Fox News host flags 'biggest political story' as she rips Trump

A former Fox News anchor on Monday flagged a deepening divide between President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, which she described as the "biggest political story" of the last 10 days.

Congress passed legislation to force the Trump administration to release the Jeffrey Epstein files about 10 days ago. The legislation included a 30-day deadline for the release and was supported by a veto-proof majority of lawmakers.

Gretchen Carlson discussed the impact of that legislation on Trump's relationship with Republicans on Monday's broadcast of CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront."

"He's losing some of the GOP, which I think is the biggest political story over the last 10 days," Carlson said.

Trump has had a vice grip on the Republican Party for more than a decade, in part because lawmakers were fearful of his media skills. His grip on the party appears to be fading as he's faced significant intra-party criticism.

For instance, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) sharply criticized the president's handling of the Epstein files and led the charge to pass the discharge petition. Greene has also criticized Trump's economic policies.

"We may see Republicans now get a spine and decide that they're actually going to vote based on what their constituents want and maybe what their own personal convictions actually are, and not just because they're fearful that Trump will primary them," Carlson added.