GOP strategist unloads on 'imbecilic' Trump 'obsession'

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U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Paris Orly airport, following the G7 Summit, in Orly, France, June 17, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

On Friday, former Republican strategist Mike Murphy woke up and chose rhetorical violence, eviscerating President Donald Trump for a range of “stupid” policy decisions.

“Trump’s tariff obsession, his train wreck approach to the USMCA, and his imbecilic war on EVs has been a huge gift to China and pure poison for US auto making,” posted Murphy, who currently serves as the Director of the USC Center for the Political Future. In the past, he has advised top Republicans like John McCain, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, but has become decidedly critical of the GOP under Trump’s leadership.

Murphy made his assertions in response to a video by MAGA-Republican senatorial candidate Mike Rogers. In it, Rogers speaks of the need to be “tough” on Chinese auto manufacturing, blaming manufacturing job losses in Michigan, where he’s campaigning, on his Democratic predecessors.

This, said Murphy, is cow manure of “Grade A Orwellian” quality, going on to list how Trump’s policies have harmed trade and manufacturing. “Make no mistake: yes-man Rogers has been with him every stupid step of the way,” added Murphy.

Critics say he’s right on all counts. After Trump leveled a barrage of tariffs against China and the rest of the world – which the president asserted would force the opening of factories in the U.S. – manufacturing declined precipitously, losing 100,000 jobs in Trump’s first year alone. Then, as Murphy mentioned, there has been Trump’s chaotic approach to the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement on free trade – which he’s refused to renew, in a decision experts warn will diminish trade and cut jobs. And finally there’s Trump’s war on electric vehicles, which has “cratered” American EV sales.

What’s more, as Murphy claims, China’s manufacturing is “booming,” despite Trump’s tariffs. As the Wall Street Journal explains, while American manufacturing has fallen off, Chinese manufacturing has continued to grow at a steady pace. Trump’s tariffs did result in a dramatic reduction of the purchase of Chinese goods by American consumers, but China just made up the difference elsewhere, and then some, with huge gains in Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Commenters noted another interestingly Orwellian aspect of Rogers’ video: It’s shot in front of the Gordie Howe Bridge that connects Canada to Michigan, the recent construction of which was paid for by Canada, but has yet to open due to pressure from Trump. Critics say the closed bridge is part of another act of presidential grift, as allegations have been raised that a wealthy family owning a competing cross-border toll bridge paid Trump to keep the Gordie Howe closed.

“Send me to Washington,” says Rogers in the video. “I’ll get this bridge open.” But Rogers himself has gone on record supporting Trump’s demand to keep it closed.

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