Nicolle Wallace floored as Republicans act like 'prisoners' — whose doors aren't locked

MS NOW host Nicolle Wallace said on Monday that Republicans are acting like political prisoners who remain in captivity even though the door to their proverbial jail cell is unlocked.

Wallace, host of "Deadline: White House," noted during the Monday broadcast of her show that Republicans have seemingly followed President Donald Trump in lockstep as he dismantled the independence of Congress. For instance, Trump has sought to withhold Congressionally approved funding through recissions unilaterally, and his administration has conducted several strikes on alleged drug boats, moves that some experts have said require the approval of Congress.

"They're like those prisoners who, when they go in to rescue them, the rescuers are like, 'The door wasn't locked,'" Wallace said. "They could get out of their political prison today."

The way for Republicans to get out of their prison is to stand up to Trump, she added, something that leadership within the party doesn't appear to be interested in.

"Mike Johnson (R-LA) isn't so good at having a spine," Wallace said. "Mike Johnson goes on a podcast and says, 'Yeah, I think they should release the Epstein files.' Donald Trump burps or belches at him the wrong way, and he shuts down Congress. That doesn't look strong. That doesn't help anybody. In the end, it doesn't even help Donald Trump."