The network of public interest groups and lawmakers working on attempts to foil Donald Trump's presidency should he return to the White House is "pathetic," former Acting Director of National Intelligence, Ric Grenell, told Newsmax on Monday.
"This whole group is pathetic in Washington, D.C. They absolutely do not want the outsider coming to Washington, D.C.," Grenell told "Rob Schmitt Tonight."
"What people need to understand is Washington, D.C., has its own rules," Grenell said. "They decide who has the power. They control the media, the lobbyists, the political types, and the bureaucracy," adding that the story about this anti-Trump network, originally reported by NBC News, shows that the media is proud of this fact.
"What this story is literally saying is that NBC is proud of the fact that there's a group of people who work for the federal government who are ready to undermine the president of the United States," Grenell said.
This story itself shows that D.C. needs change, Grenell continued.
"The people who are reporting this story are the same reporters that work at publications that we've seen for 20 years. It's this power group. They all just stay there. Washington, D.C., is literally a corruption," Grenell stated.
About NEWSMAX TV:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America!
- Find Newsmax channel in your home via cable and satellite systems – More Info Here
- Watch Newsmax+ on your home TV app or smartphone and watch it anywhere! Try it for FREE – See More Here: NewsmaxPlus.com
Jeremy Frankel ✉
Jeremy Frankel is a Newsmax writer reporting on news and politics.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.