At the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics this week, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said: “Right now, Trump has more power than Reagan. We haven’t seen a President like this on either party since Roosevelt, where he has come back to power so strong, he has a greater determination of whether a Republican wins reelection than any leader in Congress does. He raises the money. Bills don’t pass, he’s the Whip and the Speaker, the President is right now.”
McCarthy added: “Remember, Article I is the power of Congress. Well, that’s kind of been usurped right now.” (McCarthy also suggested this was a temporary situation, adding, “well, that’ll come back.”)
Former @SpeakerMcCarthy: “Right now, Trump has more power than Reagan. We haven’t seen a President like this on either party since Roosevelt…He’s the whip and the speaker…Article one is the power of Congress; well, that’s kind of been usurped right now.” pic.twitter.com/OH5rzXrMVJ
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 9, 2026
Former GOP presidential candidate and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also spoke at the Harvard Kennedy School this week and seemed to agree that Trump is dominating Congress.
Christie criticized his party for not speaking out against President Trump when he goes too far, using Trump’s expletive-laced Easter Sunday post threatening Iran as an example.
In the wake of Trump’s Easter threats, Christie said, “Not one Republican, not one, said ‘okay, now, that’s enough. Those words on Easter Sunday were ill advised.’” Christie voiced his disappointment with his party and its members, saying “they care more about their title than about doing the job they have.”
Christie: The best example of this right now is Lindsey Graham. He is a vapid, vacant human being. For him to say the things he has said about Donald Trump in the past and all he wants to do is suck up and play another round of golf…
John McCain saw Lindsey Graham as like a… pic.twitter.com/Pp964eNJQ0
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 6, 2026