The recent testimony into the United States Capitol insurrection shows that former President Donald Trump is a "disgrace" who is "unfit to be anywhere near power ever again", a right-wing news website claims.
Last week, Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to Trump's White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, gave testimony on last year's January 6 riot. She said that both Trump and Meadows had been repeatedly warned in advance and on the day of the attack about the chance of violence, including that people could be armed at the rally.
Hutchinson also claimed she had been told by a Secret Service agent that when Trump was told by security he wouldn't be going to the Capitol on the day of the insurrection, he dived to the front of the vehicle he was travelling in and tried to grab the wheel.
The Washington Examiner wrote that Hutchinson, at 25, had worked at the highest levels of Republican politics and was "a conservative Trumpist true believer and a tremendously credible one at that".
"What Hutchinson relayed was disturbing. She gave believable accounts of White House awareness that the planned Jan. 6 rally could turn violent. She repeated testimony that Trump not only knew that then-Vice President Mike Pence's life had been credibly threatened that day but also that he was somewhere between uncaring and actually approving of Pence's danger," it said.
The site also wrote about Trump's "repeated fits of rage" that Hutchinson spoke about in her testimony, including when he overturned dining table items and threw dishes across the room.
"Hutchinson's testimony confirmed a damning portrayal of Trump as unstable, unmoored, and absolutely heedless of his sworn duty to effectuate a peaceful transition of presidential power," it said.
"Trump is a disgrace. Republicans have far better options to lead the party in 2024. No one should think otherwise, much less support him, ever again."
Trump was overwhelmingly disapproving of Hutchinson's testimony, disputing what she said and calling her a "total phoney" on his social media platform Truth Social.
"Her body language is that of a bull…. artist. Fantasy land," he said.
"There is no cross-examination of the witness. This is a kangaroo court!"
Trump said he barely knew Hutchinson but had "heard very negative things about her".
He also disputed her account of his behaviour in the car when Hutchinson said he tried to grab the steering wheel.
"Her fake story that I tried to grab the steering wheel of the White House limousine in order to steer it to the Capitol Building is sick and fraudulent," Trump said.
"Wouldn't have even been possible to do such a ridiculous thing."
Trump has reportedly told his associates he is eager to launch another presidential campaign as early as this month to capitalise on President Joe Biden's low poll numbers and put his potential Republican rivals on notice.
