Republican stunned at how hard Trump is working to sink the GOP

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event at The Villages Charter School at The Villages, Florida, U.S., May 1, 2026. REUTERS Nathan Howard

Former GOP U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Penn.) lamented before a CNN panel at how eagerly President Donald Trump appears to be trying to ruin Republicans’ chances in November, even when he’s allegedly campaigning on their behalf.

Dent was responding to a recent comment about Trump from U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, (R-La.) comparing Trump to a child.

Trump allegedly called Cassidy a ‘lunatic,’ in a recent war of words, which prompted Cassidy to tell reporters: “Can I imagine that the President called me things that would be said on a school playground? I can imagine [that]”

But Dent said Republicans like Cassidy appear to be late in showing their feelings as the midterm elections begin to close in on them, with the public growing ever more frustrated at Trump’s economic policies and his unilateral attack on Iran, which inflated U.S. fuel and food prices in time for November.

“If I wanted to lose a midterm election, I would do the things the President is doing,” said Dent. “I would steal defeat from the jaws of victory on this Housing Bill. I would obsess over a ballroom. I would obsess on a pond — the reflecting pool — and an arch. I would say ‘I don't care about Americans’ financial condition. I mean it's as if he's trying to deliberately undermine his own party's electoral prospects.”

“He was just in my hometown of Allentown yesterday … up at the Mack truck plant. And he doesn't even mention the Republican gubernatorial candidate who's sitting right there,” marveled Dent. “The State Treasurer doesn't even call on the Republican congressman until the end to say something and say it fast. I mean it's — it’s just incredible that he doesn't care about their electoral prospects.”

Trump’s not good at legislation anyway, said panelist Paul Rieckhoff, host of the “Independent Americans” podcast. This, he said, is also doing nothing for a Republican Party that desperately needs to take a win home to their voters if they are to have a chance in November.

But Trump has instead stalled all legislation in an effort to bully Congress to pass the SAVE Act with its onerous vote restrictions. He’s even stalled a popular bill to help with overpriced U.S. housing.

“[Passing legislation] requires negotiation, it requires compromise, it requires getting along with people from the other side. And [Trump] doesn't like doing that. He's a snow plow, he likes to go full force, all gas and no breaks without stopping for anyone,” Rieckhoff told CNN anchor Erin Burnett. “I think it's really [typical] that he's focusing on the SAVE act, because he's focusing on the elections. He's always focusing on the elections because he has to protect his power and he knows that free and fair elections this fall will mean accountability for him. It could mean impeachment; it could mean prison. He knows that that is America's circuit breaker. That's why he continues to prioritize it.”

“He doesn't care about housing,” said Rieckhoff. “He said that before, even though most of America does. … He cares about power, and the most important thing in protecting his power is the SAVE Act.”

- YouTubeyoutu.be

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