“This draws a picture of Trump completely deranged and completely losing all control that, for his base, they think of him as someone who is in command at all times. This is totally contrary to that,” the adviser added.
Trump’s adviser, who was in a group text chat with several other Trump aides and allies as the hearing unfolded, said “no one takes it lightly.”
“For the first time since the hearings began, no one dismisses it,” the adviser said.
Another Trump ally told CNN that the testimony of Hutchinson, a former chief aide to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, would seal Meadows’ fate as a “persona non grata” for the former president.
“It simply came to our notice then [Trump] he is furious with Meadows. He was already frozen, but now he will be persona non grata, ”that person said.
The startling revelations of Hutchinson’s testimony about Trump’s erratic behavior and mood on Jan. 6 could make it easier for Republican presidential aspirants to challenge the former president in the primaries if he shows up, he added. Trump’s ally.
“This is basically a campaign ad for (the Florida government) Ron DeSantis 2024,” Trump’s ally said.
Trump claims he hardly knows Hutchinson
Trump, as he often does with aides and allies with whom he was close but then turned against him, said Tuesday that “he hardly knows[s]“Hutchinson and I personally turned down a request he made to join his post-presidency staff in Mar-a-Lago.
“When he asked to go with a few others on my team to Florida after serving a full term, I personally declined his request,” Trump told Social Truth during Hutchinson’s live testimony.
Trump tried to issue Hutchinson’s testimony Tuesday as revenge, alleging he was “very upset and angry that he didn’t want her” at his Palm Beach residence.
The former president’s attempt to distance himself from Hutchinson, whom he called “bad news” on Tuesday, came after the committee showed representations of the west wing to show how close he was to the oval office as Meadows assistant. Several former White House aides also publicly endorsed Hutchinson’s closeness to Trump and his chief of staff before and during his appearance Tuesday.
“Anyone who downplayes Cassidy Hutchinson’s role or access to the West Wing doesn’t understand how Trump is either. [White House] she worked or is trying to discredit her because they are afraid of how doomed this witness is, ”former White House press secretary Sarah Matthews tweeted.
In response, a former White House aide said, “Every WH senior knew her. And although Trump didn’t know her name, he certainly recognized her. He traveled to AF1 with Mark for every trip “. In addition, this former aide said that while Tuesday’s testimony was crazy, he is also 100% credible given what this person knew after working in the White House.
The most startling episode for some attendees so far was when Hutchinson recounted a second-hand incident where Trump allegedly tried to get behind the wheel of the presidential vehicle so he could be driven to the Capitol on January 6. . Following the testimony, a Secret Service official familiar with the matter told CNN that Tony Ornato, then deputy head of the White House cabinet, denies telling Hutchinson that the former president had taken the wheel or an agent of his detail.
Trump was nervous about the testimony
Trump has previously denied reporting on Hutchinson’s leaked testimony, stating on his Social Truth platform earlier this month that he “never said, didn’t even think to say, ‘Hang Mike Pence.'”
“This is a story invented by someone who wants to become a star, or fake news!” he wrote at the time.
But a person close to Trump said he was nervous about Tuesday’s hearing, which features Hutchinson’s live testimony. Prior to the committee’s announcement Monday, that person said Trump felt triumphant amid consecutive Supreme Court decisions that protected the right to hide carrying a gun and put an end to the constitutional right to abortion.
“A turn like this was definitely not expected,” the person close to Trump said.
The former president and his allies plan to turn Hutchinson into a young aide who had little influence in the west wing, despite his closeness to both the then president and his then chief of staff. Hutchinson served in the Office of Legislative Affairs before becoming Meadows’ top aide and witnessed several key episodes through Jan. 6, as well as witnessing some of the reactions in time. real Trump that day.
Trump was especially concerned about what Hutchinson might say about his mood and response to the January 6 rioters, a second person close to him said.
Meadows on high alert
Hutchinson’s proximity to Meadows put the former White House chief of staff on high alert ahead of Tuesday’s hearing.
Hutchinson “operated as an executive assistant to him,” said one person familiar with his relationship and his day-to-day vision, conversations and interactions with Trump is second to none.
“I think the committee has kept the fire in Meadows so far, but today will be a Meadows day,” the person said.
Meadows personally promoted Hutchinson from the White House Legislative Office to his West Wing office, where that person said he “gave him tremendous access and tremendous visibility” to his relationship. with Trump and several GOP lawmakers.
A second person familiar with the matter said Hutchinson did not receive any support from Meadows as he became entangled in the committee’s January 6 investigation, but has kept in touch with some of his other aides.
Now, Meadows and his allies are worried he might chase him again.
They are watching Tuesday’s hearing closely to see what new information Hutchinson reveals in his affidavit, the second source said, noting that Meadows is specifically concerned that his appearance may further strain his relationship with Trump. .
Trump has privately complained to allies in recent months about the text messages Meadows delivered to the House panel before stopping their cooperation, and a book Meadows wrote that contained striking new details about the seriousness of Trump’s battle with Covid-19 also angered the former president. .
This story was updated with additional reports on Tuesday.
CNN’s Josh Campbell contributed to this report.