GOP should heed Karl Rove’s warning and 'run away' from Trump: strategist

U.S. President Donald Trump attends a campaign rally in support of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley, at Gastonia Municipal Airport in Gastonia, North Carolina, U.S., September 16, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Former George W. Bush advisor Mark McKinnon told Republicans the best thing they can do for themselves as they fight for their elections is "run away" from President Donald Trump.

Trump appeared in North Carolina on Wednesday night, where he threatened to turn the state into "a killing field" if former popular Gov. Roy Cooper (D) is elected to the U.S. Senate.

"I'll tell you the one thing you can't do very successfully is attack Roy Cooper," said McKinnon on Thursday. "He's the most popular Democrat in the history of North Carolina politics. And he's going to win that race big."

McKinnon noted that "voters in America feel a loss of control."

McKinnon told MS NOW host Stephanie Ruhle that adding up "the war inflation, throw on top of that, artificial intelligence and data centers, people just feel like they're losing control. And that's a really tough argument for the Republicans to get back on track on because they don't have a good one."

Ruhle then showed former Bush political strategist Karl Rove writing for the Wall Street Journal Wednesday night that he'll be voting for a Democrat in Texas. McKinnon gave Rove props for saying publicly and putting it in a conservative newspaper like the Journal.

"It's needed to be said because what's happened, I think, and you can say it on both sides, really, the extremes have gotten so carried away and nobody's throwing any flares," McKinnon said. "They're just saying, well, that's just the way it is today. Well, Karl said, not on my watch. And I love him for it."

Ruhle then cited the AFP/Getty photo taken of Trump aboard Marine One on Wednesday night, where the president was seen looking at a giant poster that reads, "Kennedy Center DEMO." Other photos show a few more letters and it appears to spell out DEMOLISH or DEMOLITION. The photo triggered enough of an alarm that overnight court filings alerted the judge to concerns Trump is preparing to bulldoze the monument to the late President John F. Kennedy.

"Where on Earth does this come from? The Kennedy Center!" Ruhle exclaimed.

Semafor congressional bureau chief Burgess Everett shook his head and said that it's clear Trump is focused on things that no other GOP candidates care about.

Ruhle interrupted to say that not even the MAGA base cares about these monuments to Trump.

"The president just wants to reshape Washington," Everett said. "I don't think he really cares. And physically, I mean, physically reshape the city. And I don't think he necessarily cares who he ticks off in doing it. Kennedy Center, the arch. This is a president who wants his name on things all across D.C."

He noted that friends who've come to D.C. and haven't been in a while are shocked to see his face displayed all over the city on buildings and banners everywhere.

"So, you know, I do not know who is asking for the demolition of the Kennedy Center, but I can tell you that the president wants his name on it, and he appears to be willing to do whatever it takes to get there, including closing it. He closed it this week. I mean, that in itself is very surprising and not something I would have had on my bingo card," Everett said.

From Your Site Articles