Republicans Fractured and Reeling: Trump’s Agenda Unravels Amid Epstein Feud, Shutdown Backlash and Tariff Fallout

WASHINGTON — The Republican Party, once a disciplined machine under President Trump’s command, is fracturing into open revolt as a cascade of self-inflicted wounds — from the Epstein files controversy to a grinding government shutdown and tariff-induced economic tremors — has eroded the president’s iron grip, leaving behind a trail of internal meltdowns, public fury and behind-the-scenes panic that threatens to spiral into a full-scale scandal before the 2026 midterms.

The unraveling accelerated this week with the near-unanimous House passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act on November 16, a bipartisan rebuke that forced Mr. Trump’s hand after months of resistance. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, once a MAGA firebrand, co-sponsored the discharge petition that bypassed Speaker Mike Johnson’s reluctance, drawing Mr. Trump’s wrath: He branded her a “traitor” and “disgrace” on Truth Social, prompting Ms. Greene to fire back in a tearful floor speech on November 20: “I’ve fought for this president for six years, gave him my loyalty for free — and now I’m a traitor for standing with these women?” The exchange, viewed 5 million times on X, has galvanized a chorus of intraparty recriminations, with Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky — another Epstein bill backer — urging colleagues to “back the victims, not the vendettas.”

The feud underscores the fragility of Mr. Trump’s hold on a party already battered by off-year electoral defeats. Democrats swept mayoral races in New York and Philadelphia on November 4, while Republicans underperformed in Florida specials despite the president’s endorsements. A leaked Republican National Committee memo, obtained by The Times, warns of a “midterm disaster” if the party doesn’t refocus on “pocketbook issues” like inflation — promises Mr. Trump campaigned on but has sidelined amid foreign entanglements and the Epstein saga. “The shock and awe of Trump’s second term will haunt us,” the memo reads, urging a retreat from “overreach” like mass deportations that poll poorly among suburban voters.

Public outrage has boiled over the partial government shutdown, now in its 14th day, which has furloughed 800,000 federal workers and delayed benefits for millions. A CBS News/YouGov poll shows 55 percent of Democrats believe their party compromised too much to end it, while 62 percent of independents blame Republicans outright. Mr. Trump’s 38 percent approval rating — per Quinnipiac — reflects the toll, with voters citing the impasse and erratic messaging as top concerns. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel amplified the fury in a November 20 monologue, quipping: “Trump’s shutdown is like his hair — a disaster holding on by a thread.”

Behind the scenes, the panic is palpable. Aides describe Mr. Trump in a near-constant state of agitation, pacing the White House residence at odd hours and dictating posts that alienate even allies. On November 21, he lashed out at Ms. Greene and Mr. Massie over Epstein, prompting a closed-door GOP caucus where Speaker Johnson — facing his own ouster threats — pleaded for unity. “The base loves the fight, but moderates are exhausted,” one strategist confided anonymously. “Tariffs are the real killer — they’re spiking prices while Canada lures our suppliers.”

Mr. Trump’s “America First” tariffs, imposed in April under Section 232, have indeed backfired spectacularly. U.S. auto sales are projected to dip 10 percent in 2025, with Toyota reporting a 21 percent September plunge amid $1.1 billion in duties. Canada, retaliating with slashed quotas on GM and Stellantis, saw 5.6 percent sales growth through October, attracting Volkswagen’s $800 million EV plant. A Center for Automotive Research study warns of $108 billion in losses and 18,000 job cuts, turning protectionism into self-sabotage. Senator Lindsey Graham, on Fox News, urged recalibration: “Tariffs protect steel, but autos? We’re shooting our own tires.”

The scandals compound the chaos. A November 18 Reuters report revealed Democratic senators pressing the administration over Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff’s undisclosed ties to UAE-backed crypto firm World Liberty Financial, amid ethics lapses in his financial disclosures. On November 19, The Washington Post exposed a draft executive order directing the DOJ to sue states over AI regulations, sparking a MAGA split: Tech allies like Elon Musk praised deregulation, but populists like Senator Josh Hawley warned of job losses to AI. “Trump’s courting billionaires while workers suffer,” Hawley tweeted, drawing a rebuke from Mr. Trump: “Josh is great, but stay in your lane!”

Public fury peaked with the Epstein vote. Victims’ advocates rallied outside the Capitol on November 17, chanting “Transparency now!” as Ms. Greene positioned herself as a “voice for unity” in a CNN interview, apologizing for “toxic politics” and urging Mr. Trump to follow suit. The Guardian reported on November 23 that Democrats like Senator Mark Kelly are urging military personnel to resist “illegal orders,” citing Mr. Trump’s threats against six lawmakers. “He’s trying to intimidate us,” Mr. Kelly said on CBS, calling on Republicans to denounce the rhetoric.

The internal meltdowns are visceral. A POLITICO report on November 21 detailed Lt. Gen. Michael Driscoll’s Ukraine trip as a “profound split screen” from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s scandals, highlighting Mr. Trump’s novice cabinet. CNN’s November 16 coverage noted soul-searching among Democrats but pinned the shutdown blame on Republicans, with 55 percent of voters agreeing the GOP got the short end.

As Mr. Trump departs for the G20 in Brazil, his plans — from tariffs to transparency — lie in tatters. Aides whisper of a “term collapse,” with midterms 11 months away. “The base loves the fight,” one said, “but the party’s bleeding moderates.” In Washington’s echo chamber, where outrage is oxygen, the scandals aren’t just backfiring — they’re consuming the house Trump built.