Political strategist James Carville has stated that Donald Trump has entered a “lame duck” phase of his presidency significantly earlier than expected. During a recent episode of his podcast, Politics War Room, Carville noted that typically, a president’s influence diminishes during the final months of their term. However, he believes Trump’s political power has already waned, evident from recent actions by Republican lawmakers.
Carville’s remarks followed an unexpected development where four Republican members of the House of Representatives aligned with Democrats to support a bill aimed at extending premium tax credits for healthcare under the Affordable Care Act. House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to call a vote on the proposal, prompting these lawmakers to initiate a discharge petition to compel a vote in January.
“No one cares about Trump anymore,” Carville asserted, emphasizing that Republican lawmakers are no longer intimidated by the former president. He remarked, “His presidency, other than the legal power granted to him by the Constitution, is over. No one gives a f*** about him.” This sentiment reflects a growing sentiment among politicians who are beginning to distance themselves from Trump amid decreasing public support.
Carville pointed to several indicators of Trump’s declining influence, including poor polling numbers and the Democratic gains in the recent mid-cycle elections. He specifically highlighted the fallout from Trump’s unpopular spending bill, which cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and failed to extend the ACA credits. “When the power seeps away from you, it’s not linear,” Carville noted, asserting that Trump’s political standing has rapidly deteriorated.
Amid this political landscape, Carville observed that administration officials are beginning to express frustrations internally. He referenced a Vanity Fair report featuring candid interviews with key White House figures, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The report painted a picture of disarray within the Trump administration, further underscoring the challenges the former president faces.
As the situation unfolds, Carville anticipates more revelations about the administration’s struggles. “We’ve got three years to go of this massive failure,” he stated, predicting that the disconnect between Trump and Republican lawmakers will only grow.
The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comments regarding Carville’s assertions and the ongoing political dynamics.
