Carl Bernstein: Watergate journalist says top Republicans feel Donald Trump is 'unfit for office'
Mr Bernstein says senior figures in party, as well as in military and intelligence agencies, are questioning Mr Trump's 'lack of ethics' and 'temperament'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Famed Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein has called on the media in the US to investigate his claim that “important” Republicans believe Donald Trump is unfit for office.
He says he has the ear of senior figures in the party who are saying in private that the US President suffers from a “lack of ethics” and question his competence as well as his “temperament/stability”.
Mr Bernstein added that the apparent growing disapproval over the White House chief included individuals “high-up” among the ranks of the intelligence agencies and the military.
He called on the press to probe how “pervasive” the supposed lack of confidence is among the President’s ranks amid spiralling calls that he should be impeached.
It comes as Mr Trump has been hit with widespread criticism for his equivocal comments on the white supremacists who rampaged in Charlottesville – later describing some of them as “very fine people”.
His further comments that there was violence “on both sides” when ultra-right groups lashed out at counter-protesters sparked fresh calls by Democrats for Mr Trump to be ousted.
But Mr Bernstein said there was growing unrest among the top ranks of the President’s own Republican party.
In a series of tweets, the famous journalist wrote: “(1/3) Important Republicans/conservs/Intel-military hi-ups increasingly saying in private that @realDonaldTrump is unfit to be president.
“(2/3) BC of lack of ethics, competence, ‘temperament/stability.’
“(3/3)—Reporters should find out how pervasive such talk may be.”
Mr Bernstein is one of two Washington Post journalists who exposed the Watergate scandal in 1972 that led to the impeachment and resignation of President Richard Nixon.
The legendary reporter is currently a commentator with CNN and a hardline critic of Mr Trump, saying last month that his administration was “dangerous beyond any modern presidency."
The US President has accused the news channel of airing “fake news” and caused controversy on Monday when he re-tweeted an image of a “Trump” train slamming into a CNN reporter.
It came after he sparred with a journalist for the broadcaster, Jim Acosta, during a rowdy press conference on Monday after he hit out at violence “on both sides” over clashes in Charlottesville.
Violence erupted in the Virginia city when white nationalists, including the Ku Klux Klan, lashed out at counter protesters in clashes on Saturday that left one woman dead and 19 injured.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments