Heilemann: Republicans Now ‘Have the License to Come Forward’ and Smash Trump

‘This has given everyone free reign’

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

GEIST: “The fact that he gave up his turn to be released because he thought other people should be released before him. But everyone knows that part of the story. We'll talk to McCain. I guess the question is, is this Donald Trump in a nutshell, John Heilemann? Is this him shooting from the hip and never apologizing which got him very far in life but may stop him here?”

HEILEMANN: “Yes. And yes. And also yes. Probably the bigger issue, bigger dynamic that is unleashed is it has now freed -- to whatever extent there were people afraid to criticize John McCain or criticize Donald Trump this has given everyone free reign. Everyone who is now wants to attack him, was maybe tiptoeing around it has license to come forward. We saw that over the weekend. Only a few people like Ted Cruz not attacking Donald Trump. Seven piling on. I don't know whether the apology at this point. I don't know that he knows those words, I'm sorry. I don't know that that will turn the tide because this is the moment where now all the Republican party says fair game.”

BRZEZINSKI: “The only reason I think it could is because it's so stunning from him. But as you said, and it is the moment that Republican candidates and any trump opponent has been waiting for, the reaction from fellow Republican candidates was swift.”

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