‘Almost Certain Defeat’: Report On RNC Chair’s Unearthed 2026 Comments Sparks Firestorm of Attacks and Counterattacks

Alex Griffing Dec 12th, 2025, 4:02 pm

Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters was at the center of an online firestorm on Friday, as he and the RNC ferociously defended an unearthed assessment he made about the challenges Republicans are facing in the 2026 midterm elections.

Gruters and the RNC angrily attacked outlets on Friday that reported on his comments, which included him saying, “We’re facing almost certain defeat.”

The audio was first reported by Andrew Egger in the Bulwark and was later picked up by other outlets like the Daily Beast. Gruters shared a clip of the remark and replied, “This is absolutely fake news. Democrats are desperate to

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