Trump aides are reportedly concerned about his impeachment response


Some of President Trump's aides reportedly fear he's already getting off on the wrong foot with his impeachment response.
The president, according to a new CNN report, has been dismissing the idea of forming a separate team to fight impeachment, as he's "confident in his own ability to counter-message Democrats." But despite Trump's confidence, there's reportedly "growing concern among the President's allies that he doesn't understand the implications of what lies ahead or how quickly it's moving."
Even beyond that, though, some in the White House reportedly see the past six days since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced the opening of an official impeachment inquiry as a "lost opportunity to shape public opinion at the outset of the inquiry," CNN writes. So far, the pushback has primarily come from Trump himself, Trump allies in Congress, and Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani.
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.
With Giuliani, in particular, CNN reports White House officials are quite frustrated with him amid his odd TV appearances and at this point have just "decided to sit back and let him go on television until he burns himself out," at which point he can be swapped out for Trump allies "who are better equipped." Trump's resistance to a separate impeachment team evidently means former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski being brought on, as was reported last week, is now unlikely, with Trump thinking talk of bringing back aides "projected weakness."
Some of Trump's early impeachment response has included rage-tweets floating the idea that House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) should be arrested for treason and that impeaching him would create a "Civil War like fracture," the latter of which was condemned by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) as "beyond repugnant."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Taking aim at Venezuela’s autocrat
Feature The Trump administration is ramping up military pressure on Nicolás Maduro. Is he a threat to the U.S.?
-
Comey indictment: Is the justice system broken?
Feature U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan has indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of lying and obstructing Congress
-
Government shuts down amid partisan deadlock
Feature As Democrats and Republicans clash over health care and spending, the shutdown leaves 750,000 federal workers in limbo
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
-
YouTube to pay Trump $22M over Jan. 6 expulsion
Speed Read The president accused the company of censorship following the suspension of accounts post-Capitol riot