Ex-RNC Chair Shreds MAGA 'Pretenders' For Calling Him 1 Thing

Former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele pulled no punches with his response to Donald Trump-supporting Republicans who have branded him with the “RINO” acronym, which stands for “Republican In Name Only.”

MSNBC’s José Díaz-Balart asked Steele on Monday: “Is there an old-school GOP still around?”

“Yeah, I’m OG, there we go, there you go. Right here. You got one on the show. OG. I’m OG,” he replied in a video shared online by AlterNet.

Steele noted how he joined the party in 1976, when Gerald Ford was in the White House, before slamming the “pretenders” for calling him a “RINO.”

They need to “just step it down a little bit,” said Steele.

They “haven’t done the work,” he continued. “All you did was fantasize about Donald Trump, and create images of him, idolatrize him in a way that’s irrelevant to the political construct.”

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Already contributed? Log in to