Conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly sat down with Leland Vittert on NewsNation and stated that the Republican base no longer exists. He described the group as gone after the recent midterm results. The longtime commentator said the party no longer has the numbers needed to compete in future elections.
Vittert raised the idea that President Trump is not strongly ideological and tends to take a practical approach. He suggested that moves which annoy traditional Republican voters, including an immigration proposal, could still prove useful. O’Reilly answered directly that no Republican base remains.
The former Fox News host added that Trump is focused on securing a limited number of wins before leaving office. O’Reilly noted that a broad immigration law should have been enacted many years earlier. He said both parties avoided the issue for decades because they treated it as a useful campaign tool.
Independents turned against Trump and the GOP according to the commentator
O’Reilly explained that once a tougher enforcement policy began, the focus shifted to removing people with criminal records. He said officials needed a dedicated unit to carry out the work. According to him, that unit lacked discipline while Kristi Noem led the Department of Homeland Security, and street violence followed as a result.
He referenced his recent column titled It’s My Party, I’ll Cry If I Want To, which appears on BillOReilly.com. In the piece, he wrote that millions of voters without strong party ties handed power to people he called radical extremists. Reports had already pointed to Democratic momentum and GOP midterm fears before the vote. He stated those individuals will now attempt to dismantle traditional America, with the effects appearing soon.
O’Reilly wrote that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will not block the changes. He added that Trump will continue pushing back alongside Stephen Miller. The column also said the Republican Party itself is weak and confused, comparing the situation to an old song lyric about having reason to cry.
When Vittert asked whether the confusion stems from a lack of leadership or from the party’s own shortcomings, O’Reilly replied that the party simply does not have enough supporters left. He said, “Listen, the Republican Party doesn’t have enough adherents to win any elections ever again.”
Vittert pointed out that Trump had publicly claimed he was on the ballot and remains the party’s central figure. O’Reilly responded that independent voters moved against both Trump and the GOP, and that the remaining Republican voters were too few to offset the shift. He expects the pattern to continue.
He described a growing share of independent, non-ideological voters. O’Reilly then addressed the broader party-based MAGA approach, saying, “this is all in dinosaur territory.” He followed with the statement that it is extinct and is not coming back. Some in the base had even accused Trump of sabotaging the midterms before the votes were counted.
Asked whether he views that outcome as positive, O’Reilly said it is for him. He identified himself as a registered independent who prefers to support the candidate he sees as the strongest problem solver. He mentioned that Long Island Congressman Tom Suozzi will appear on his No Spin News program to outline a proposed immigration law.
O’Reilly said he will judge the plan on whether it appears helpful to the country. He closed by stating that helping the country should be the main aim of every public official.
Published: Nov 11, 2026 07:00 am