Donald Trump and the Republican Party are committing "political malpractice on an epic scale," according to conservative commentator Charlie Sykes, who criticized the president for burdening GOP candidates with his baggage at the worst possible moment.

Sykes is a veteran conservative commentator and journalist who has become a vocal opponent of Trump and his MAGA agenda over the past decade. A longtime presence in conservative media, he was previously a prominent Milwaukee-based talk radio host and editor in chief of the Bulwark, an outlet founded by anti-Trump conservatives. He appeared on the latest episode of the "Fast Politics" podcast with host Molly Jong-Fast, where the two discussed, among other topics, Trump's unprecedented decision to compel the GOP to hold a midterm convention — a practice traditionally reserved for presidential election years, when parties formally nominate their presidential ticket. Midterm elections, by contrast, have historically been fought district by district, with candidates tailoring their messages to local conditions rather than rallying around a single national figure.

As the event approaches, reports have emerged that GOP lawmakers and candidates have grown frustrated with the convention, criticizing it as a waste of valuable resources ahead of a crucial election and arguing it puts Trump at the center of attention at a time when voters are increasingly weary of his leadership. They have also scoffed at the steep price tag for attendance, which ranges from $25,000 to $100,000.

Amid reports citing anonymous Republicans venting their frustrations about the convention, RNC officials have begun warning candidates that they risk losing support if they do not attend.

"So this is the reporting today from Politico where the RNC issued a warning," Jong-Fast said. "If members choose to keep an arm's length from the president, they risk alienating their base, and they risk alienating 15 to 20 percent of key Republican voters not turning out because they don't feel like they're a good supporter of the president's policies. RNC spokeswoman said that."

Sykes, in response, did not mince words about the strategy.

"Well, I mean, this is political malpractice on an epic scale, because normally if you're, you know, a swing-seat Republican, what you're trying to do is make this anything other than a referendum on Donald Trump," he said. "If you make it a referendum on Donald Trump, you are in deep s——. And so what is the message coming from the White House? It's got to be all about me. And next week they're having that midterm convention, that's going to be a s——show for the ages."

He added: "And so at the very moment when Republican candidates would like to be back in their districts or their states, where they would like to be, you know, putting a little bit of daylight between themselves and [the president], Donald Trump, again, less than 60 days before the midterm says, 'No, it's all about me' because he believes that he's really on the ballot, and he's making the RNC hammer that message home."