'Cowardice' prevails as Trump’s 'closest confidants' refuse to 'rein him in'

08 April

President Donald Trump at the Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida on April 6, 2025 (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley/Flickr)

During his first presidency, Donald Trump often clashed with traditional non-MAGA conservatives he appointed — including a secretary of state (Rex Tillerson), a national security adviser (John Bolton), a White House chief of staff (retired Gen. John F. Kelly), and a U.S. attorney general (Jeff Sessions). Some former Trump Administration officials, although still Republicans, endorsed Kamala Harris for president at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago — including ex-White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham and Olivia Troye, a national security staffer under former Vice President Mike Pence.

But President Trump's second administration is much different, comprised largely of staunch MAGA loyalists. Moreover, most Republicans in Congress are reluctant to publicly criticize Trump.

In her April 8 column, the Washington Post's Catherine Rampell (who was recently hired as a weekend host for MSNBC) laments that no matter how bad his policies are, Trump is surrounded by Republicans who are afraid to criticize him.

"Who will tell the emperor he’s buck naked?" Rampell writes. "Not his Cabinet. Not his donors or corporate executives. And certainly not Congress. After President Donald Trump launched his multifront trade war — leading to one of the worst market massacres since World War 2 — his closest confidants and aides have been unwilling to call him out or rein him in."

Rampbell adds, "Worse, some have egged him on…. Emboldened by the sycophants and cowards who refuse to speak the truth, Trump insists Americans should 'hang tough,' swallow his 'medicine' and stoically endure the pain he is inflicting. But calls for collective sacrifice ring hollow when voiced by a guy who went golfing as the economy melted down."

A corporate donor, recently interviewed by Rolling Stone on condition of anonymity, admitted that Trump is terrible for the economy.

The donor told Rolling Stone, "I am not willing to go public yet but I will say this: I don't know if I would be this worried about what will happen to the economy if Bernie f-----g Sanders were president. That's how bad this is.”

Rampell points to that donor as a prime example of the type of fear Trump inspires

The columnist observes, "Corporate executives and Trump donors are too terrified to criticize him publicly…. Patience might be a virtue. Cowardice is not."

Catherine Rampell's full column is available at this link (subscription required).

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