5 insults Trump hurled at fellow Republicans in upcoming book
Former President Donald Trump hasn't slowed down when it comes to insulting people since leaving the White House.
In an excerpt from Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker's upcoming book I Alone Can Fix It published Monday by Vanity Fair, the journalists highlighted several moments from their hours-long March interview with Trump during which he tore into some of his least favorite Republicans.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) seemed to get the worst of it. "He's a stupid person," Trump reportedly said. "I don't think he's smart enough." Trump also referred to the senator as a "knucklehead" for not eliminating the filibuster, and said he has "no personality."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R), who didn't cave to Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him in large part because of voter fraud in the state, was described by Trump as a "terrible Republican" who "did everything he could to block voter integrity."
Trump went on to label moderate GOP Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) a "lightweight," and referred to both Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and former House Speaker Paul Ryan as RINOs (Republicans In Name Only), though the latter got hit with a "super-RINO."
And amid all that, Trump still somehow managed to bring up the late Sen. John McCain unprompted. McCain, Trump told Rucker and Leonnig, "was a bad guy ... a bully and a nasty guy ... a lot of people disliked him." Read the full excerpt at Vanity Fair.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Who is Charles Grassley?
In the Spotlight The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman in charge of Trump's legal agenda
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
The best TV series with multiple timelines right now
The Week Recommends Narratives that spend significant time in two or more stories can be especially rewarding
By David Faris Published
-
'The Mountain West has acquired a whole new mythos, updated for the high-tech era'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Charles Grassley: the senator in charge of Trump's legal agenda
In the Spotlight The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman in charge of Trump's legal agenda
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
OpenAI announces ChatGPT Gov for government use
Speed Read The artificial intelligence research company has launched a new version of its chatbot tailored for the US government
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Caroline Kennedy urges Senate to reject RFK Jr.
Speed Read Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s cousin said he should not become President Donald Trump's health secretary, calling his medical views 'dangerous'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
China's backyard: will Trump's aggression push Latin America away?
Today's Big Question Rift between US and Colombia, threats of tariffs on Mexico, designs on Panama Canal and mass deportations could encourage closer ties with Beijing
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The biggest international naming disputes in history
The Explainer Nations have often been at odds with each other over geographic titles
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
GOP senator reneged on voting against Hegseth
Speed Read North Carolina senator Thom Tillis provided the deciding vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump sparks chaos with spending, aid freezes
Speed Read A sudden freeze on federal grants and loans by President Donald Trump's administration has created widespread confusion
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
What could happen to the US food supply under Trump's isolationist agenda?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The president's plan to deport undocumented workers and levy massive taxes on international imports might have repercussions on your dinner plate
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published