Former George W. Bush adviser Mark McKinnon — who served as chief media adviser on both of Bush's presidential campaigns — has blunt advice for Republicans fighting for their seats this election cycle: "run away" from President Donald Trump.

McKinnon issued the warning after Trump appeared in North Carolina on Wednesday night, where he threatened to turn the state into "a killing field" if former popular Gov. Roy Cooper (D) is elected to the U.S. Senate. Cooper, who served two terms as governor before leaving office in 2025, is running for the open Senate seat created by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis's announcement that he would not seek reelection.

"I'll tell you the one thing you can't do very successfully is attack Roy Cooper," McKinnon said Thursday. "He's the most popular Democrat in the history of North Carolina politics. And he's going to win that race big."

Speaking to MS NOW host Stephanie Ruhle, McKinnon argued that Republicans face a deeper problem than any individual race: an electorate that feels powerless. "Voters in America feel a loss of control," he noted.

"Adding up the war inflation, throw on top of that, artificial intelligence and data centers, people just feel like they're losing control," McKinnon said. "And that's a really tough argument for the Republicans to get back on track on because they don't have a good one."

Ruhle then turned to a remarkable break within the party's own establishment: Karl Rove, the longtime Bush political strategist who went on to serve as senior adviser and deputy chief of staff in the Bush White House, announcing in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Wednesday night that he will be voting for a Democrat in Texas. McKinnon applauded Rove for saying so publicly — and for doing it in conservative newspaper like the Journal.

"It's needed to be said because what's happened, I think, and you can say it on both sides, really, the extremes have gotten so carried away and nobody's throwing any flares," McKinnon said. "They're just saying, well, that's just the way it is today. Well, Karl said, not on my watch. And I love him for it."

The conversation then shifted to the Kennedy Center — the performing arts complex Congress designated as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, and whose board elected Trump as chairman in 5 — and to a photograph that set off alarms in Washington. Ruhle cited an AFP/Getty image taken of Trump aboard Marine One on Wednesday night, showing the president looking at a giant poster that reads, "Kennedy Center DEMO." Other photos show a few more letters, and the sign appears to spell out DEMOLISH or DEMOLITION. The image was alarming enough that overnight court filings alerted the judge to concerns that Trump is preparing to bulldoze the monument to the late President John F. Kennedy.

"Where on Earth does this come from? The Kennedy Center!" Ruhle exclaimed.

Semafor congressional bureau chief Burgess Everett said the episode makes clear that Trump is focused on matters no other GOP candidates care about. Ruhle interrupted to point out that not even the MAGA base cares about these monuments to Trump.

"The president just wants to reshape Washington," Everett said. "I don't think he really cares. And physically, I mean, physically reshape the city. And I don't think he necessarily cares who he ticks off in doing it. Kennedy Center, the arch. This is a president who wants his name on things all across D.C."

Everett added that friends who have visited Washington after a long absence are shocked to see Trump's face displayed on buildings and banners all over the city.

"So, you know, I do not know who is asking for the demolition of the Kennedy Center, but I can tell you that the president wants his name on it, and he appears to be willing to do whatever it takes to get there, including closing it. He closed it this week. I mean, that in itself is very surprising and not something I would have had on my bingo card," Everett said.

This article originally appeared on Alternet.