In a move raising eyebrows across conservative America, former RNC Chairman and current MSNBC host Michael Steele shocked viewers over the weekend by championing one of the most far-left voices in Congress—Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA). Even more surprising? He insisted he’s still a Republican.
“Bring that resistance!” Steele exclaimed on MSNBC’s The Weekend, applauding Jayapal’s anti-Trump campaign events. “That’s what I’m talking about!” he added with a grin.
Jayapal, a self-declared socialist who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, is currently leading what she calls the “Resistance Lab”—a series of public events aimed at mobilizing voters against what she describes as the “destruction” brought by Trump and his allies.
Steele not only praised her efforts but claimed the two are “aligned” on deeper values.
“Here’s where you and I are aligned,” Steele said. “There’s a threat to our liberties, to our freedoms. This is bigger than party. This is about standing up to Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Pam Bondi, and Pete Hegseth.”
Yes, you read that right. A former head of the Republican National Committee is now publicly siding with some of the most radical left-wing figures in Congress—against Trump and other prominent conservatives.
A Republican… or Not?
While Steele made clear he still identifies as a Republican, many viewers were left asking: Republican of what kind?
“I’m still a Republican,” Steele claimed. “But I respect what Jayapal is doing.”
That respect includes backing her inflammatory rhetoric that portrays Trump-era policies as “cruel,” and her assertion that Trump’s leadership is about “slashing and burning” government institutions for the benefit of “a tiny group at the top.”
“These are critical programs,” Jayapal said. “The whole goal here is power. To destroy families. To let the rich get richer while everyone else suffers.”
Trump World Reacts
Conservative figures weren’t buying Steele’s explanation.
One former Trump campaign advisor called it “a full-blown betrayal.”
“He’s clapping for the Resistance? That’s not Republican—that’s MSNBC brainwash,” the advisor told Real America News. “It’s laughable he still wears the ‘R’ badge while parroting talking points straight out of Bernie Sanders’ playbook.”
Online, MAGA supporters lit up social media, calling Steele a “D.C. traitor” and “RINO-in-chief.” Hashtags like #StillARepublican and #ResistThis trended on X (formerly Twitter), with thousands of Trump voters slamming Steele for what they see as political theater designed to win praise from left-wing media.
Who Is Pramila Jayapal?
Jayapal isn’t just a garden-variety liberal. She’s a leading voice for abolishing ICE, pushing Medicare for All, and defunding law enforcement. She’s also been critical of President Biden for not being left enough—especially on the border.
Just last month, Jayapal attacked Biden’s immigration enforcement as “so heavy-handed” that it gave her “serious concerns.” Conservative critics say she’s more aligned with open-borders activists than everyday Americans.
“When did America become so cruel?” she claims a flight attendant asked her.
Jayapal’s solution? A progressive revolution. And Michael Steele appears to be joining the chorus.
The Bigger Picture
The Steele-Jayapal alliance paints a clear picture of the ongoing civil war within the Republican Party. While Trump enjoys overwhelming support among the GOP base—polls show him leading the 2024 primary field by double digits—figures like Steele have chosen to ally with the left in the name of “saving democracy.”
Critics argue this is just cover for their personal vendettas against Trump.
“Steele hasn’t been on Team GOP since Obama was in office,” one Trump supporter posted. “He’s MSNBC now. He works for the Resistance. That’s all you need to know.”
As the 2024 election season ramps up, Steele’s latest move signals what many conservatives already suspected: the establishment wing of the GOP is more comfortable with Democrats than with Trump—and they’ll even admit it on national TV.
Bottom Line: Michael Steele may call himself a Republican. But if you’re cheering for the socialist wing of the Democrat Party to “bring the resistance,” you’re not standing with the conservative base—you’re standing in their way.
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With republicans like th
You call still be a Republican and NOT believe
He is still a Republican and so is Liz Cheney. tRump is a traitor and a con-artist.