'Tide has changed': Ex-Trump staffer says GOP lawmakers see president-elect as 'lame duck'

A former Donald Trump staffer said the Matt Gaetz flameout showed Republican senators were more willing to oppose the once and future president in his second term.

The Florida Republican withdrew his nomination Thursday after just eight days, three days short of Anthony Scaramucci's 11-day tenure as Trump's communications director – a measure of time he jokingly calls a "Mooch" – and he told CNN that episode shows the president-elect doesn't have control over the incoming GOP majority

"Obviously, a lot of the things that [former] Rep. Gaetz did was disqualifying, but I think the tide has changed a little bit," Scaramucci said. "I think there's been a shape shift by the Republicans in the Senate. You know, they see Trump as a lame duck. They know there's one more election that he can have lots of influence on, which is the congressional election in two years, and I think they are fortifying themselves to block some of the things that he's done in the past, and so the Trump season, you know, this is 'The Apprentice: White House Edition' season two. I think the cast members up on Capitol Hill are ready for Donald Trump this time. I don't think they were as prepared as they are now, and I think the messaging [to Gaetz] was, behind closed doors: 'You're not going to make it, don't embarrass the president and withdraw.'"

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Scaramucci suspects at least one of Trump's other nominees could be forced to bow out over rape allegations.

"Now, the other questions are, you know, about some of these other candidates," Scaramucci said. "Well, Pete Hegseth ended up having to do the same thing, and I will predict if there's more information about Pete that comes out, he'll be No. 2 to go that way. But I think Pam Bondi, by the way, will do well. Pam Bondi says the things that Donald Trump likes to hear, but she won't do the things that Donald Trump likes to do, and so I think that's someone that respects the system, and I think she'll get it. I think she'll get through."

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