CNN’s Jake Tapper, Jamie Gangel, and Chris Wallace delved into Rep. Liz Cheney’s new book, uncovering revelations about the GOP’s post-2020 election dynamics and their relationship with Donald Trump. One standout excerpt discussed Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s visit to Mar-a-Lago, weeks after the Capitol riot, under the pretext that Trump wasn’t eating and was depressed.
Cheney’s incredulous response to McCarthy’s explanation became a focal point. Tapper, amused, remarked, “But the idea that he would even try to peddle that malarkey to Liz Cheney, I find amazing!”
The conversation continued with Tapper asking Gangel about the most surprising aspect of the book. Gangel pointed to the multitude of stories revealing hypocrisy and duplicity within the GOP. Private conversations mocking Trump, expressing knowledge of his loss, and using various pretexts were cited. Wallace chimed in, referencing Rep. Mark Green’s moniker for Trump as the “Orange Jesus,” expressing his surprise at this revelation from Cheney’s book.
The CNN panel emphasized the contrast between public support for Trump and the private sentiments revealed in Cheney’s book, shedding light on the inner workings of the GOP post-2020 election. The discussions underscored the discrepancy between public loyalty and behind-the-scenes assessments within the party.
CHENEY: MAR-A-LAGO? WHAT THE HELL, KEVIN?
MCCARTHY: THEY’RE REALLY WORRIED. TRUMP’S NOT EATING, SO THEY ASKED ME TO COME SEE HIM.
CHENEY: WHAT? YOU WENT TO MAR-A-LAGO BECAUSE TRUMP’S NOT EATING?
MCCARTHY: YEAH. HE’S REALLY DEPRESSED.
“I LOVED THE ONE ABOUT [KEVIN] MCCARTHY SAYING THAT HE HAD TO GO DOWN TO MAR-A-LAGO BECAUSE THE DONALD WAS DEPRESSED AND HE WASN’T EATING. FIRST OF ALL, I — THAT ALONE I FIND SURPRISING, BUT— JUST BECAUSE HE’S A MAN OF HEALTHY APPETITES. I DON’T MEAN THAT DISPARAGINGLY,” TAPPER ADDED.
“BUT THE IDEA THAT HE WOULD EVEN TRY TO PEDDLE THAT MALARKEY TO LIZ CHENEY, I FIND AMAZING!”
TAPPER THEN TURNED BACK TO GANGEL.
“BUT WHAT, OF ALL THE STORIES IN THERE, WHAT’S THE MOST SURPRISING TO YOU?” HE ASKED.
“I THINK ACTUALLY IT’S THE NUMBER OF STORIES LIKE THAT. IT IS THE HYPOCRISY. IT IS THE DUPLICITY. IT’S ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE BEING SAID IN PRIVATE, AND THEY’RE MOCKING TRUMP, AND THEY’RE SAYING, “WE JUST NEED TO DO THIS ONE LAST THING, OR HE’S NOT EATING, OR HE KNOWS HE’S LOST,” GANGEL SAID.
“OR, WHAT I DO FOR THE ORANGE JESUS,” WALLACE ADDED, REFERRING TO THE MONIKER REP. MARK GREEN (R-TN) CALLED TRUMP IN PRIVATE.
“CONGRESSMAN MARK GREEN, I KIND OF JUST THOUGHT HE WAS A TRUE BELIEVER, BUT HE CALLED TRUMP THE ‘ORANGE JESUS,’ ACCORDING TO LIZ CHENEY? THAT’S SURPRISING TO ME!” TAPPER EXCLAIMED
