Ex-Trump Aide Warns: ‘This Isn’t the Same Man That I Worked For’

On Thursday night, former Trump administration deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews told CNN that Donald Trump appears “more unhinged” now than in 2016. Speaking with host Kaitlan Collins on The Source, Matthews agreed with Hillary Clinton’s recent comments regarding Trump’s instability, issuing a warning to fellow Republicans: “This isn’t the same man that I worked for.”

Reflecting on her time in the administration, Matthews conveyed her concerns over Trump’s recent actions and mindset. “I would agree with that,” she said, referencing Clinton’s assertion that Trump has grown “more unhinged, more unstable.” Matthews made it clear that her message is directed primarily toward Republican voters, emphasizing the differences she perceives in Trump’s demeanor since his initial campaign. “That’s been my warning to Republican voters out there,” she continued.

According to Matthews, Trump’s response to the 2020 election marked a pivotal change in his behavior. “This isn’t the same man that I worked for,” she cautioned. “I think that something in him broke in the 2020 election. He was unable to accept that loss and he started to unravel.” She described the former president as someone driven by grievance and unable to move forward, indicating that his current focus seems fixed on personal retribution rather than policy goals.

Comparing Trump’s current campaign to his original 2016 run, Matthews noted the stark differences. Back then, she explained, his “Make America Great Again” slogan represented a vision, one that voters were willing to take a chance on due to his lack of a political record. “He was running on a vision,” she said. “Now in 2024, he’s hellbent on revenge and retribution.” Matthews believes that Trump’s defeat in 2020 has left him consumed by a desire to settle scores rather than pursue a constructive agenda for the country.

Matthews also commended Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign for addressing what they described as Trump’s fixation on an “enemy list.” She argued that this focus highlights the contrasting approaches of the two campaigns, with Harris emphasizing solutions for the nation while Trump channels energy toward retaliatory actions. “She’s focused on solutions, he’s focused on petty arguments and getting revenge on people,” Matthews observed, pointing to what she sees as a fundamental difference in leadership priorities.

This isn’t the first time Matthews has voiced concerns about her former boss. Since her departure from the administration, she has occasionally spoken out, expressing worries over Trump’s political and personal evolution. Her comments on The Source add weight to the narrative of Trump’s changed demeanor and approach, which she and others attribute to his refusal to accept the outcome of the 2020 election.

Matthews’s warning to her fellow Republicans comes at a time of heightened tension within the GOP, as the party navigates its relationship with Trump’s legacy and current influence. By urging Republican voters to take a closer look at Trump’s motivations and methods in this election cycle, she aims to bring attention to what she considers a troubling shift in his priorities and approach.

With the 2024 campaign season underway, Matthews’s comments underscore the internal divide among Republicans, some of whom are re-evaluating Trump’s impact on the party. Her plea to voters to recognize a different side of Trump—one focused on retribution rather than vision—adds to the complex dialogue surrounding his potential return to the White House.