Michael Steele, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), has delivered a scathing assessment of Donald Trump's first year back in the White House, arguing that America's core institutions surrendered to the president's bullying with alarming rapidity.
The Speed of the Capitulation
Steele, who became the first Black chair of the RNC in 2009, said the most shocking aspect of the last twelve months was not Trump's expected authoritarian assault on constitutional norms, but how swiftly law firms, universities, and media companies folded under pressure. "The only thing that would be surprising is the speed with which institutions collapsed," Steele remarked in a recent interview.
He described an administration strategy that overwhelmed processes, making it "easier to collapse and give in than to stand and resist." The former GOP leader pointed to specific tactics: the Trump administration targeted law firms opposing his policies by threatening to revoke security clearances and terminate government contracts, leading many to settle by providing pro bono work aligned with White House priorities.
Elite universities faced similar coercion, with over $5bn in federal grants and contracts frozen, often linked to probes into alleged antisemitism or diversity policies. This financial pressure forced numerous institutions to negotiate settlements involving policy changes and oversight concessions, with Harvard being a notable exception.
A Call for Accountability and Political Reckoning
Steele, a persistent critic of Trump since his takeover of the Republican party, warned that enabling a bully only invites further domination. "Once you beholden yourself to a bully, you will always be bullied," he stated, expressing dismay at how quickly key pillars of American society were subdued.
Looking ahead to the looming midterm elections for Congress, Steele forecasts a resounding victory for Democrats. He believes a profound hunger exists among voters to hold the president and his allies accountable for threatening democratic foundations. "A lot more Americans are going to align themselves with demanding some level of accountability," Steele argued.
He emphasised that accountability should extend beyond Trump himself to the officials enabling his agenda. "Individuals in their capacities as secretaries and administrators and directors and advisers can be held accountable and must be held accountable," Steele said, suggesting this will be a central theme driving voters in the 2026 election cycle.
Steele's Political Journey and Outlook
The 67-year-old Steele, who coined the famous "Drill, baby, drill!" slogan in 2008, has undergone a significant political evolution. After losing the RNC chairmanship in 2011, he became an implacable opponent of Trump's Republican Party. He now co-hosts 'The Weeknight' on the liberal-leaning MS NOW network and voted for Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the last two presidential elections.
Despite this, he has not formally left the GOP, describing himself as a "Motel 6 Republican" keeping the light on for the party's return to its principles. He remains a pungent critic, recently mocking the renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as a "lonely, desperate cry for acceptance."
Citing Democratic successes in the 2025 New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races and California's Proposition 50, Steele sees clear indicators of a shifting political mood. He predicts Democrats could pick up 30 to 35 seats in the House of Representatives in November, drawing parallels to the major political shifts of the 2010 midterms.
While Steele hopes Trump's influence may wane, he cautions that the president's allies—including Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, and Kash Patel—are poised to sustain his aggressive agenda. The coming election, in Steele's view, will be a decisive referendum on whether the nation chooses to confront those who capitulated to the bully or allows the assault on its institutions to continue.
