Anthony Scaramucci has a theory about what Republicans really think of Donald Trump, and it's not pretty. The former White House Communications Director suggests the gap between public loyalty and private sentiment within the GOP is wider than most people realize.
Speaking on the Daily Beast Podcast, Scaramucci painted Trump as a weakening force heading into the midterm elections, leading a party that secretly resents him. "Anybody who thinks the party likes him doesn't understand the party," he said. "And that could be the donors who hold their nose and give him money, or that could be the political class that lives with them in Washington."
The real kicker? Scaramucci claims even Trump's inner circle harbors deep animosity, maintaining their support purely out of fear. "If you're inside Trump's inner orbit, you hate the guy's guts. He knows that, you know that," he explained. "But there's a dance because you're afraid of him, because he's intimidating you, because of his political prowess and his media presence. He's sort of the big furry, he's sasquatch of social media. And you don't want him bigfooting your ass. So you're afraid of him, but you hate his guts."
Scaramucci described Trump's current position bluntly: "Trump is a lame duck, and he's racing now towards the midterm elections and his lame-duck status and his party hates him."
As evidence of shifting power dynamics, Scaramucci pointed to the recent bipartisan congressional vote to disclose Jeffrey Epstein files, which went forward despite Trump's initial opposition. He sees this as prominent Republicans openly defying the former president.
While Scaramucci doesn't expect Trump to be forced out, he predicts a substantial erosion of his influence over the Republican Party in the months ahead.
What This Means
Coming from a former insider, these observations offer a rare window into GOP internal dynamics. If accurate, they suggest a party wrestling with growing internal divisions and questions about its future trajectory.
The combination of alleged private discontent and recent public defiance could affect Republican unity heading into crucial midterm elections. How much sway Trump retains over the party, and whether the GOP's public posture shifts to match these supposed private sentiments, will be critical storylines to monitor in coming months.