The GOP Has a Problem—and Its Name Is Donald Trump

The base may still kneel, but the generals are plotting. And this time, the threat is coming from within.

The GOP Has a Problem—and Its Name Is Donald Trump

The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter #431

If that title made you tighten your jaw or crack your knuckles…you’re not alone.

Because right now…behind closed doors and in private group chats…some of the biggest Republican influencers... donors…strategists…and even elected officials are quietly—but increasingly—not so quietly—panicking.

As a matter of fact, as I’m writing…the House panel is setting up a vote on a Jeffrey Epstein resolution.

Because the dam is cracking. The cult is splintering. And the “Trump train” has a flat tire…a busted axle…and a stench coming from the caboose that no amount of Fox News perfume can cover up.

And this time?

It’s not because of “fake news” or “liberal hoaxes.” It’s not because the media twisted his words. It’s because Trump left a literal paper trail… straight into the rotting mouth of one of the darkest scandals in American history: Jeffrey Epstein.

Let’s break it down.

The Letter That Should’ve Stayed in the Drawer

Back in 2003…Trump sent a gushing letter to Jeffrey Epstein. Yes, that Jeffrey Epstein. The pedophile. The trafficker. The man whose private island was a who’s who of elite rot.

The letter wasn’t just a quick thank-you or polite nod. It was laced with praise… fondness…and the kind of chumminess you don’t show unless there’s a deeper bond.

And just in case you missed the part where Epstein is one of the most notorious abusers of young girls in modern memory—Trump also doodled a little cartoon on it. A Trumpian flourish. Branding, baby.

It’s sick. It’s stupid. And it's proof that the man Republicans lined up behind has never had a working compass—moral…political…or otherwise.

Big Name Republicans Are Done Pretending

Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes. And if you listen closely…you’ll start to hear it in their public voices too.

Some of the biggest names in conservative media and politics—people who built their platforms defending Trump like loyal lapdogs—are now backpedaling. Fast.

Why?

Because even they can’t spin this. The MAGA magic is wearing off. The “but he fights!” excuses don’t work when you’re standing in front of a chalk outline of what used to be your credibility.

We’re talking about influencers with millions of followers. Donors with deep pockets. Strategists who’ve shaped elections for decades.

These aren’t liberals. These aren’t RINOs. These are dyed-in-the-wool…gun-toting, red-meat-eating conservatives who have finally reached the last straw. And the Epstein letter? It was soaked in kerosene. All it needed was one spark.

And it just landed.

The Trump Strategy Has Expired

Here’s what the GOP finally realizes…even if they won’t admit it yet in public:

Trump is not an asset. He’s a liability. A loud, angry…unpredictable liability with just enough power left to take the whole damn party down with him.

You can’t plan a 2026 midterm strategy around a man whose biggest strengths are grievance tweets and fascist merch drops.

You can’t build a coherent policy platform around a man who waffles between “I love dictators” and “I am the law” like it’s a karaoke song.

And now? You can’t even separate him from Epstein without getting Epstein stink all over your shoes.

This is not just a PR crisis. This is a full-on existential collapse.

Because the base still loves Trump… but the cracks are showing. The frustration is mounting. The rage is boiling—insidethe house.

The GOP’s Three Terrible Options

Let’s look at the chessboard. The GOP has exactly three options now. All of them are ugly.

Option 1: Double Down

This is the coward’s move. Just pretend nothing’s wrong. Keep defending Trump. Blame the deep state. Say Epstein was a “setup.” Dismiss the letter as a joke. Gaslight everyone into submission.

It might keep the base happy for a while… but it kills the swing vote. It kills the women’s vote. It kills independents. And it guarantees losses in suburban districts where Trump’s toxicity spreads like mold in a FEMA trailer.

Option 2: Quietly Push Someone Else

This is the backroom cigar plan. Let Trump run, but slowly elevate someone else—maybe JD Vance…maybe Youngkin…maybe a “less toxic” MAGA clone. Try to siphon power away without provoking a civil war.

But it won’t work. Trump doesn’t share the stage. And his cult doesn’t split the check. If you run someone with him….Trump will burn them on live TV. If you run someone against him…he’ll scream “traitor” louder than a banshee in a blender.

Option 3: Cut Him Loose, Publicly

This is the nuclear option. Pull the trigger. Name the problem. Disavow Trump. Face the fury. Burn down MAGA and try to rebuild from the ashes.

It’s bold. It’s dangerous. It might cost them 30% of their base. But it’s also the only way the GOP survives long-term.

And mark my words: some are already preparing for this.

They're not there yet, but they’re laying the groundwork. You’ll start to hear phrases like:

• “We respect what Trump did in 2016, but it’s time to move on.”

• “This isn’t the same Trump we supported.”

• “We need a leader who isn’t bogged down in scandal.”

When you hear that? Know this: The knives are being sharpened.

What This Means for Trump

Trump isn’t dumb. Delusional? Yes. Narcissistic? Without question. But dumb? No.

He smells the blood. He knows the walls are closing in. That’s why he’s ramping up the fascist talk. That’s why he’s leaning harder into vengeance…calling for purges…promising dictatorship on day one.

It’s panic disguised as bravado.

Because he knows once the GOP stops protecting him…the floodgates open. Indictments…depositions…leaked memos…angry ex-staffers—it’ll all come pouring out.

He needs the party to stay afraid of him. And this Epstein scandal—this little letter with a big stink—could be the start of that fear unraveling.

The thing that undoes Donald Trump won’t be a liberal hit piece. It’ll be the conservative whisper that turns into a roar.

What This Means for America

You might be tempted to celebrate this…especially if are a Democrat, and if you are reading this…there’s a 99% chance you are.

You can…but with limits.

Because a fractured GOP isn’t just a party problem…it’s a national security risk. Trump untethered from the establishment is Trump unhinged.

He will tear down everything on his way out, just to feel like a king one more time.

And if the GOP waits too long? If they hedge…waffle…and try to “manage” him? He’ll bring the whole damn party down—and maybe the country with it.

This is a moment of decision.

Will the Republican Party finally show a shred of spine?

Or will they keep praying that the alligator eats them last?

My Final Thought (from the peanut gallery)

There’s a line in politics: “The only thing more dangerous than a demagogue in power is a demagogue who feels betrayed.”

The GOP built Frankenstein. He got out of the lab. And now the villagers are whispering… but none of them want to light the torch.

But that torch is coming…whether they like it or not. The only question is who gets burned holding it.

We move forward with tenacious resolve and fire in the belly. I know this about you. You know this…about me.

I’ll be back soon…with even more. You know that, too!

-Jack

P.S. If you're one of my paid subscribers—thank you. You're not just supporting journalism… you're supporting guts. Guts to say what others won't. Guts to shine light when others hide in party shadows.

I write this because you deserve to know what's really happening behind the curtain. And I promise: we’re just getting started.