John Boehner: Trump's 'bulls---' cost GOP the Senate and 'led to mob violence'
Former House Speaker John Boehner isn't holding back against former President Donald Trump in his new book.
The former Republican leader in his upcoming memoir On the House blasts Trump for pushing baseless allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election and blames him for inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, The New York Times reports.
"[Trump] incited that bloody insurrection for nothing more than selfish reasons, perpetuated by the bulls--- he'd been shoveling since he lost a fair election the previous November," Boehner writes. "He claimed voter fraud without any evidence, and repeated those claims, taking advantage of the trust placed in him by his supporters and ultimately betraying that trust."
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.
Boehner reportedly writes that it was "painful" to watch Trump refuse to accept the results of the election, which ultimately "not only cost Republicans the Senate but led to mob violence." Seeing Trump's supporters storm the Capitol building on Jan. 6, he also says, was "scary" and "sad," adding this was "one of the lowest points of American democracy" and it "should have been a wake-up call for a return to Republican sanity."
But Boehner also says it didn't "surprise me in the least" to see some of the Republican lawmakers who backed Trump's efforts to overturn the election, and the "legislative terrorism that I'd witnessed as speaker had now encouraged actual terrorism." He calls on the GOP to "take back control" from "garden-variety whack jobs" and "insurrectionists."
This is the latest look at Boehner's book after its back cover included a number of revealing quotes, including one in which he ripped Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) as a "reckless a--hole," and he reportedly went off script while recording the audiobook just to tear into Cruz more. Trump responded to these Boehner quotes about him by telling the Times, "Was he drinking when he made this statement? Just another RINO who couldn't do the job!"
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
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.
-
Swiss bliss: Chenot Palace Weggis takes wellness to the next level
The Blend Heath retreat on Switzerland's Lake Lucerne offers a mid-winter reset
By Felix Bischof Published
-
Earth's mini-moon was the moon all along
Under the radar More lunar rocks are likely floating in space
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: February 4, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Ex-Sen. Bob Menendez sentenced to 11 years
Speed Read The former New Jersey senator was convicted on federal bribery and corruption charges last year
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Police ID driver of exploded Cybertruck, can't see motive
Speed Read An Army Green Beret detonated a homemade bomb in a Tesla Cybertruck in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Teenage girl kills 2 in Wisconsin school shooting
Speed Read 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow fatally shot a teacher and student at Abundant Life Christian School
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Penny acquitted in NYC subway choking death
Speed Read Daniel Penny was found not guilty of homicide in the 2023 choking death of Jordan Neely
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Suspect in CEO shooting caught, charged with murder
Speed Read Police believe 26-year-old Luigi Mangione killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
UnitedHealthcare CEO killed in 'brazen, targeted' hit
Speed Read Police are conducting a massive search for Brian Thompson's shooter
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
DOJ demands changes at 'abhorrent' Atlanta jail
Speed Read Georgia's Fulton County Jail subjects inmates to 'unconstitutional' conditions, the 16-month investigation found
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
China tries to bury deadly car attack
Speed Read An SUV drove into a crowd of people in Zhuhai, killing and injuring dozens — but news of the attack has been censored
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published