Punchbowl reports on revelations from Jon Karl’s new book “Betrayal” about Trump’s ranting at the two top Republicans in Congress: “Trump said this about the two GOP leaders: ‘If McConnell and McCarthy fought harder, okay, you could have a Republican president right now, and now they don’t have anything.’ It’s no surprise that Trump complained about the leaders over his loss in 2020. But this is why the former president remains a wild card for McCarthy. The California Republican needs Trump to be at least neutral in his quest to become the speaker.”

“Trump also complained that ‘Kevin’ wasn’t treating Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene properly: ‘She’s been a very good supporter of mine, and I’m a supporter of hers. And I don’t think Kevin has treated her properly,’ Trump said. Lots of people have opinions, and we tend to view most of Trump’s musings as discordant and unsatisfying. But this book looks like it will be fascinating – and, furthermore, what Trump says about McCarthy matters. A huge chunk of the House GOP remains enthralled by the defeated former president. Trump is targeting those who backed his impeachment or voted for bipartisan deals with Democrats. And, as we said, Trump will certainly have views about McCarthy’s quest to be speaker.”

Separately Politico reports from the book that Moscow Mitch “planned to disinvite Trump from the inauguration. According to Karl, McConnell ‘felt he could not give Trump another opportunity to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.’ McCarthy was against the plan. McCarthy and a McConnell aide separately informed the White House of the plan. The information spurred Trump to preemptively announce that he wouldn’t attend via what would become his last tweet.”