WASHINGTON — Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele believes more Republicans in Congress should speak out against the White House.
“It is absolutely pathetic at this point that the leadership, House and Senate, cannot corral the insanity that has engulfed this administration when it comes to this public projection of who we are as Republicans, what we value, the things we are going to fight for,” Steele told WTOP on Tuesday.
Along with his former role of RNC chair, Steele also served as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007.
Earlier Tuesday, President Donald Trump tweeted that Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker was “made to sound a fool” in an interview with The New York Times that was released Saturday, in which Corker condemned Trump’s “recklessness,” claiming it could set the nation “on the path to World War III.”
Other congressional Republicans have kept quiet about the feud that has emerged between the president and Corker. Steele believes that is because other lawmakers agree with the senator.
“In large measure, the senator is right,” Steele said about Corker’s analysis of the Trump presidency.
Because Corker is retiring next year, he is free to be more critical of the president than other members of Congress, who will face voters again.
“(The other Republicans in Congress) have this inordinate fear of a very small portion of the Republican base,” Steele said. “In my estimate, they are giving life to an anti-Republican movement within the party and it is pathetic.”
Steele’s commentary comes after the president’s former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, declared war on Republicans who speak out against the administration and called for Corker’s resignation on Monday.
“(Supporters of the White House) are going to develop their hit list. They are going to come after certain members who aren’t loyal to the president,” Steele said. “Well, loyalty is not blind and loyalty is earned. The president has not earned the loyalty of the members.”
