Stephanie Grisham Breaks Silence on Trump’s Lack of Empathy and Morals at DNC
In a dramatic and unexpected move, Stephanie Grisham, former White House Press Secretary under Donald Trump, took the stage at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) to deliver a scathing critique of her former boss. Grisham, once a loyal insider within the Trump administration, now describes a deep sense of disillusionment that led her to break with Trump and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency.
“I wasn’t just a Trump supporter; I was a true believer,” Grisham began, recounting her time as one of Trump’s closest advisers. She spoke of her deep involvement with the Trump family, including holidays spent at Mar-a-Lago, where she witnessed Trump in his most unguarded moments. It was in these private moments, Grisham revealed, that she saw a side of Trump that deeply troubled her.
Grisham shocked the audience by revealing that Trump would mock his own supporters, derogatorily referring to them as “basement dwellers.” This revelation was just one of many that painted Trump as a leader devoid of empathy or moral integrity. Grisham shared a particularly disturbing incident during a hospital visit, where Trump was more concerned with the absence of cameras than with the critically ill patients he was there to comfort. “He has no empathy, no morals, and no fidelity to this country,” she stated emphatically.
The breaking point for Grisham came on January 6, 2021, the day of the Capitol insurrection. As violence erupted, she pleaded with Melania Trump to issue a tweet condemning the lawlessness. The former First Lady’s terse response, “no,” led Grisham to resign from her senior position immediately. “I couldn’t be part of the insanity any longer,” she explained.
Reflecting on her tenure as White House Press Secretary, Grisham acknowledged the criticism she received for never holding a press briefing, a decision she now attributes to her unwillingness to “stand at that podium and lie.” Now, she finds herself advocating for Harris because, as she put it, “I love my country more than my party.”
Grisham’s endorsement of Harris carries significant weight given her former role within Trump’s inner circle. “Kamala Harris tells the truth. She respects the American people, and she has my vote,” Grisham declared, signaling her complete disavowal of the man she once staunchly defended.
The impact of Grisham’s speech at the DNC is already reverberating through political circles. CNN’s Abby Phillip noted that the absence of notable Trump officials from the Republican National Convention, including former Vice President Mike Pence, highlights the growing fractures within the Republican Party under Trump’s leadership. For many, like Grisham, the events of January 6th provided a moment of intense clarity about Trump’s character and his unfitness for office.
In a post-speech interview with CNN’s Sara Sidner, Grisham described her experience as “surreal” and admitted that coming forward was terrifying. She acknowledged the backlash she expects to face, including threats to her safety, but expressed hope that her words would resonate with voters. “If I reached even a handful of independents or Republicans who will vote their conscience and not for party, then I will have done my job,” she said.
As the nation prepares for another divisive election, Grisham’s defection from Trump’s camp and her endorsement of Kamala Harris mark a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for the direction of the Republican Party and the future of American democracy.
