Snowflake

[Trump's] national security adviser, Robert O’Brien, is enabling the mayhem, four senior officials told The Daily Beast.

O’Brien—once viewed as a potential check on Trump’s erratic national security demands—endorsed the installation of a pair of Trumpists at the Pentagon’s highest levels, while a defense secretary O’Brien has long opposed was fired by tweet.

[...]

According to multiple officials, O’Brien had for months complained about now-fired Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and his pushback against the president’s demands, including that the military be used for political purposes.

[...]

One official claimed that O’Brien has been supportive of a peaceful transfer of power, joking in a Monday event about Trump’s loss and directing his staff to begin drafting transition materials. But three other officials told The Daily Beast that O’Brien has emerged as one of Trump’s biggest enablers at a decisive moment, supporting the president’s bid to retain power.

[...]

“If you even mention Biden’s name… that’s a no-go, you’d be fired,” one national security official said. “Everyone is scared of even talking about the chance of working with the [Biden] transition.”

Asked if officials in the White House feel comfortable saying Biden’s name in the West Wing, one senior White House official said, half-jokingly, “Sure, you can say his name. If you’re talking about who lost the election to the president.”

[...]

One official described it [...] as the NSC taking over the Pentagon, while another tried to absolve O’Brien of primary responsibility.

  Daily Beast

Well, at least they're consistent. Chaos and infighting to the bitter end.

[T]he dynamics of personal loyalty that bind Trumpworld together deter many of his closest advisers from telling him that his presidency is over.

“It's like dealing with a lunatic on the subway. Everyone just kind of sits and stares ahead, pretends they can't hear him, and waits for him to eventually get off,” a GOP source close to the administration told The Daily Beast.

[...]

For now, virtually every major player in Trumpworld, starting with the president, is publicly operating as if a second term could magically materialize tomorrow.

[...]

“He has to go. His team is seeping already. I've passed along four resumes today,” said the GOP source close to the administration. “I really think the worst for him is that all this just kind of goes on without him. He'll sulk out the door and my guess is Biden walks into an empty White House… What a fucking clown show.”

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.