Ex-GOP strategist and outspoken #NeverTrumper Steve Schmidt sounded the alarms on Real Time with Bill Maher on the current state of the Trump presidency.

On the subject of President Donald Trump‘s repeated attacks on the media, Schmidt insisted that it “isn’t a question about media bias.”

“We’re seeing somebody go to mass rallies, constantly lie to incite fervor in a cult of personality base, we are seeing him make victimization honorable- they’re all victims, right? We are seeing the allegation of conspiracy, the ‘Deep State,’ hidden, nefarious movements that only the leader can see. We see the scapegoating of minority populations, vulnerable populations, and lastly, the assertion that ‘I need to exercise these powers that no president has ever claimed to have,'” Schmidt told the Real Time panel. “This is deliberate. This is an assault on objective truth. And once you get people to surrender their sovereignty, what is true is what the leader says is true, what is true is what the leader believes is true, even though what’s true is staring you in the face. when that happens, you are no longer living in a democratic republic. 35% of this country has checked out. They have joined a cult.They are obedient. They are obedient to the leader.”

Later on, Schmidt accused the GOP leadership on Capitol Hill of “being complicit” of Russia’s attacks on our democracy.

“They are not defending this country,” Schmidt said to Bill Maher.” And they are unfaithful to their oaths of office and to the Constitution of the United States.”

Watch the clip above, via HBO.

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