BOILING POINT: Reports of GOP turmoil swirl as Trump goes rogue
One source close to the campaign described the bleak situation to CNBC by saying characterizing the Trump staff as "suicidal."
"Manafort not challenging [Trump] anymore," said the source, described as an ally of campaign chairman Paul Manafort. "Mailing it in. Staff suicidal."
Another source told NBC News that it was "way worse than people realize," while others were said to have referred to the campaign as "Crazytown."
Officials within the GOP didn't seem have much more optimism.
ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl reported that "senior officials at the party are actively exploring what would happen if Trump dropped out" and wondering about "how to replace him on the ballot."
"He is so unpredictable right now, they are so unable to control his message that they just don't know and they clearly think it is a possibility, which is why they're looking at these rules," Karl said on "Good Morning America."
A top Republican told NBC News that Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus was "apoplectic" over Trump saying he was not ready to endorse Ryan in his House reelection race. Priebus was described as "furious" by sources who spoke to Karl.
Even former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, one of Trump's most ardent supporters, blasted him for what he called "self-destructive" behavior.
"Trump is still behaving like as though it was the primaries and there were 17 candidates," Gingrich told the Fox Business Channel on Wednesday. "He has not made the transition to being the potential president of the United States, which is a much tougher league."
Republicans close to Trump were plotting an intervention to protect other Republican candidates who will also be up for election this November, NBC News reported. Top Republicans were said to be hoping that Trump's children could help rein him in.
A CNN reporter cited a Trump adviser who said the media needs to focus more on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and less on Trump's antics:
Trump spokesman Jason Miller pushed back on the reports of turmoil within the campaign, tweeting out a statement.
"The idea that Paul Manafort is mailing it in is completely erroneous," it said. "Our campaign just finished up our strongest month of fundraising to date, we're adding talented and experienced staffers on a daily basis, and Mr. Trump's turning out bigger and more enthusiastic crowds than Hillary Clinton ever could."
Manafort himself has also denied the reports:
And Trump stood firm, saying nothing is amiss. He tweeted Wednesday morning: