Former Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Michael Steele offered a stark assessment of the Republican Party on Tuesday, arguing long-term growth for the party is not likely with former President Trump at the helm.
MSNBC “Morning Joe” co-host Willie Geist pointed out Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley still garnered about 40 percent of South Carolina’s GOP primary vote last weekend, despite losing by nearly 20 points to Trump in her home state, when speaking with Steele on Tuesday. Some political analysts have argued this indicates Trump could struggle to hold a lead in November’s general election.
Responding to Geist’s comments, Steele said, “Yeah, it’s how you grind yourself down as a national party into the dust of nothing because the reality as it is … there is no real runway here to sustain a long-term growth prospect for the Republican Party with Donald Trump as its head.”
“[The Republican Party] has spent the last eight years systematically taking out the leadership that could win. The candidates that could win are losing in primaries,” he added.