Cassidy Hutchinson says it’s a ‘make-or-break moment’ for the Republican Party to stand against Trump

Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide, said Monday that it’s a “make-or-break” moment for the Republican Party to take a stand against former President Trump ahead of the 2024 election. 

During an appearance on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show,” Hutchinson told host Rachel Maddow that while she still considers herself a Republican, she doesn’t believe that her former employer is a “strong Republican.” 

“I do not believe that Mr. Trump is a strong Republican. But in this election cycle, in my opinion, it’s a make-or-break moment for the Republican Party,” Hutchinson told Maddow. “Now is the time if these politicians, these men and some women, that are currently in Congress want to make the break and want to take the stand, they have to do it now.” 

Hutchinson also said that she doesn’t understand why Republican lawmakers are still willing to support Trump, considering the ongoing controversy and legal challenges that surround him. 

“I think it’s extremely disappointing, and it’s not a hard issue to take. We’re talking about a man who at the very essence of his being almost destroyed democracy in one day, and he wants to do it again. He wants to run for president to do it again,” Hutchinson added. 

“He has been indicted four times since Jan. 6. I would not have a clear conscience and be able to sleep at night if I were a Republican in Congress that supported Donald Trump,” she concluded. “And I think that if they’re not willing to split with that, then we’re in serious danger for the party.” 

It’s been a year since Hutchinson, who was an aide to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, testified before the now defunct select committee investigating the Jan 6., 2021, attacks at the Capitol. She was the first member of the Trump administration to do so. 

Hutchinson’s remarks come a month after Trump, along with 18 of his allies, were indicted by a Georgia grand jury on charges tied to efforts to overturn the 2020 election. 

Trump, who announced his third presidential campaign last November, has been hit with three other indictments this year relating to his business dealings, handling of classified documents, and his actions in the aftermath of the 2020 election. 

Hutchinson’s appearance on Maddow’s program was focused on her new book, titled “Enough,” which details her experience working under the Trump administration and the events that lead to her testifying before Congress. 

Hutchinson’s new book is set to publish Tuesday.