- The New York Times on Wednesday published an anonymous op-ed article by a person described as a “senior official in the Trump administration” who says there’s a “quiet resistance” within it.
- The official slammed President Donald Trump on everything from his approach to trade and foreign policy to his feelings on the late Sen. John McCain.
- “It may be cold comfort in this chaotic era, but Americans should know that there are adults in the room,” the official wrote.
The New York Times on Wednesday published an anonymous op-ed article by a person described as a “senior official in the Trump administration” who says there’s a “quiet resistance” within it.
“Many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations,” the unnamed official wrote of President Donald Trump. “I would know. I am one of them.”
The official goes on to say that this group does not identify with the politics of the “popular ‘resistance’ of the left” and is proud of many of the administration’s accomplishments, adding that several policies “have already made America safer and more prosperous.”
But this group of officials is concerned with Trump’s behavior and “impetuous” nature and has vowed to do what it can to “preserve our democratic institutions,” the person wrote. The official said that Trump “engages in repetitive rants” during meetings and that his “impulsiveness” leads to reckless decisions that consistently have to be walked back.
The official slammed Trump on everything from his approach to trade and foreign policy to his feelings on the late Sen. John McCain.
"We believe our first duty is to this country, and the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic," the official wrote.
The official contended that Trump had worked against America's fundamental ideals, saying that people across the government were "working to insulate their operations from his whims."
The op-ed article portrays many White House staffers as "unsung heroes" working against Trump's "erratic behavior" even as they're vilified by the media.
"It may be cold comfort in this chaotic era, but Americans should know that there are adults in the room," the official wrote. "We fully recognize what is happening. And we are trying to do what's right even when Donald Trump won't."
The official also said that at one point there were "whispers" within the Cabinet of employing the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office but that it was ultimately decided against because "no one wanted to precipitate a constitutional crisis."
The Times referred to the author as "he" in a tweet, prompting many to assume the op-ed was written by a man. But Danielle Rhoades Ha, vice president of corporate communications for The Times, told Business Insider this was a mistake.
"Senior opinion editors know the identity of the official, as we pointed out in our editor's note," Ha said via email. "The tweet was drafted by someone who is not aware of the author's identity, including the gender, so the use of 'he' was an error."
The White House did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
The op-ed article comes as Trump and others in the administration react to the journalist Bob Woodward's new book, "Fear," which is set to be released on Tuesday and said to include bombshell claims that several top Trump officials have repeatedly criticized the president and worked against his wishes.
Trump has described the book as a work of fiction amid reports of a "witch hunt" for staffers who may have spoken with Woodward.