Former Interior Secretary: Trump’s influence on Republican party is ‘waning’

Donald Trump’s former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke believes the former president is losing his influence on the Republican party, and cited as evidence the fact that several Trump-supporting Republicans repeatedly voted against Kevin McCarthy in the race for House Speaker, despite Trump endorsing McCarthy.

After having previously condemned McCarthy, the former president reversed course and urged Republicans to support McCarthy’s bid for Speaker of the House.

“It’s now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

But Trump’s endorsement seemed to have little impact in McCarthy getting elected.

While speaking with CNN host Laura Coates in an interview, Zinke said that Trump’s influence is “absolutely” waning and pointed to McCarthy’s inability to secure the Speaker title.

“He’s behind McCarthy,” Zinke told Coates on CNN, “and they ignored him.”