A brewing fight inside the Republican Party has erupted, fueled by panic over the increasingly visible signs of Donald Trump’s aging and declining stamina. What began as quiet murmurs about his health has spiraled into a full-blown internal clash over whether he’s healthy enough to lead the GOP.
The issue blew open after Stuart Stevens, senior adviser to The Lincoln Project, told MS NOW host Chris Jansing on Wednesday that Trump has unintentionally drawn more attention to his own decline by insisting he’s fine. Stevens argued that by trying to swat away questions about his stamina and sharpness, Trump is basically confirming what many in the party are whispering.
“Look, I think that on election day a couple of weeks ago, Donald Trump aged a lot, and his ability to determine the outcome of these races is pretty much over. He’s a declining political asset, though,” Stevens said.
It’s not just the political wear and tear, Stevens added. It’s the simple reality of Trump staring down 80.
“As Trump inches closer to 80, ‘he’s getting older and people just see this,’” he said. And the president’s repeated attempts to declare himself energetic and fully in command aren’t helping.
“‘You can’t deny this. I mean, it’s anytime you’re putting out a statement saying, well, I’m really not tired. I’m really not. It’s just sort of silly,’” Stevens said.
That frustration is boiling over into a wider battle inside the Republican Party — one that goes beyond questions of health and straight into the fight over what comes after Trump. Some Republicans are openly wondering how long the party can keep orbiting around a leader they fear is losing steam.
“‘I mean, you have to just show that Republican party is still under the control of Donald Trump, but they realize that he is a fading leader, and there is great dissension underneath about what is going to be next and that’s where these internal fights are,’” Stevens said.
And then he dropped the blunt line that’s now ricocheting through GOP circles: It’s all happening because Trump looks weak.
“‘But it’s all driven by Trump being weak. If he was stronger, this wouldn’t be happen. If Trump had 55% approval ratings, I don’t think people would be talking about the fact that he fell asleep in the oval office,’” Stevens added.
Republicans spent years avoiding even the slightest hint of criticism toward Trump, fearing backlash from his base. Now, with signs of decline becoming harder for many in the party to ignore, those long-buried tensions are breaking into full view.
Watch the segment below:
