Just over a year into President Donald Trump’s second term, a sharp split is growing inside the Republican Party.
On the surface, MAGA allies are standing firm. Conservative media figures continue to defend the White House and repeat administration talking points without hesitation.
Behind closed doors, however, a very different picture is emerging.
Even some of Trump’s most loyal allies are quietly uneasy, and that anxiety is now starting to surface in public. The warning came during a recent CNN appearance by Doug Heye, a former communications director for the Republican National Committee.
“Republicans are spooked,” Heye said.
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Heye is not a fringe critic. He spent years inside GOP leadership circles, shaping party messaging during tense political moments. His role was to calm situations, not stir them up. That background is why his comments are turning heads.
And according to Heye, the unease is now reaching the very top of the party.
“I got an e-mail two days ago from a very conservative, very senior Republican member of Congress who said: What should I say?” Heye explained.
The lawmaker, according to Heye, is a major Trump ally who usually knows exactly how to respond when controversy hits.
This time was different.
“That is somebody who is a very big Trump ally, usually knows what to say,” Heye added.
The uncertainty did not stop there.
Heye said he also reached out to one of the Republican Party’s key committees to ask what guidance was being given to candidates across the country.
The response stood out.
“I reached out to one of the party committees yesterday and said: what are you telling your candidates? Point one: message of unity calm slash order,” Heye said.
He then made the meaning clear.
“That’s de-escalation. That’s not raise the temperature.”
The shift in tone shows real concern about how voters are reacting to the administration’s actions. Much of that unease comes from Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement push, especially the high-profile raids in Minneapolis.
The situation intensified after the death of Alex Pretti during a federal operation, an event that quickly became a flashpoint. Communities and local leaders have been closely watching how the White House manages the fallout.
While Trump has reviewed the incident, he has stopped short of fully backing the agents involved. That hesitation has been noticed inside Republican circles and is adding to the growing anxiety within the party.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
