Former Trump Campaign Staffers Say He Has "Embedded Enemies" In His Administration

Is the so-called deep state attempting to undermine Donald Trump's presidency? According to two long-time Trump loyalists, Trump is being sabotaged by "embedded enemies" working within the White House, Congress, and a handful of federal agencies. In a new book set to be released Tuesday, former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and former deputy Trump campaign manager David Bossie claim the president is a victim of the deep state.

"There are far too many people in the deep reaches of the federal government who harbor as deep a hatred of Trump as does anyone from the Clinton/Obama cabal," The Washington Post reported the pair wrote in their book, Trump's Enemies: How the Deep State Is Undermining the Presidency. "The thing is, they get away with it when no one is looking."

According to The Washington Post, which obtained an advance copy of the book, Lewandowski and Bossie go on to name those they allege have created a "resistance" within the federal government. They argue this group works to "attack the administration with a thousand cuts" by seeking to delegitimize and undermine Trump's presidency.

Interestingly, albeit not unsurprisingly, Trump names "Fake News" as his greatest enemy in an interview with Lewandowski and Bossie that is included in the book. "The greatest enemy of this country is Fake News. I really mean it," The Post reported Trump is quoted as saying. "I think that one of the most important things that I've done, especially for the public, is explain that a lot of the news is indeed fake."

Among those Lewandowski and Bossie call out by name are former Trump attorney Michael Cohen and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, both of whom the authors deem to be "rats," according to The Washington Post. In September, ABC News reported that Cohen was cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller. That same month, Manafort plead guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice and agreed to cooperate in the Mueller probe as part of a plea deal, CNN reported.

Lewandowski and Bossie also reportedly diss former press secretary Sean Spicer and former deputy chief of staff Joe Hagin as members of what they call "the November Ninth Club," meaning they didn't support Trump until after he'd won the election. But Spicer abruptly resigned in July 2017, serving the Trump administration for less than a year, CNBC reported. And, according to The New York Times, Hagin's years of White House experience gave him a reputation for being a part of the establishment and ultimately caused some within Trump's circle to view him with suspicion. Hagin resigned in June.

Former staff secretary Rob Porter, who resigned after allegations of domestic abuse surfaced, is alleged by Lewandowski and Bossie to have tried to undercut Trump through suggestions he be more "presidential." Lewandowski and Bossie also reportedly bemoan former FBI director James B. Comey, former deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe, former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, and former FBI agent Peter Strzok. The latter two reportedly sent anti-Trump texts to each other during the 2016 election, according to The New York Times .

But ultimately, it's former National Economy Council director Gary Cohn who is reportedly given the title of "poster boy for the disloyal staff conspiring against President Trump." Cohn resigned in March after Trump imposed trade tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Cohen, who opposed Trump's trade tariffs, told Politico in May that he feels "freer," "more rested," and "happier" since leaving the White House.

Despite all of his cries of a witch hunt, The Washington Post reported that Trump is quoted as saying that he thinks Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into allegations of collusion and Russian meddling during the 2016 election have actually helped him. "I think it makes my base stronger," Trump is reported to have said in his interview with Lewandowski and Bossie. "I would have never said this to you. But I think the level of love now is far greater than when we won."