KAKISTOCRACY (noun) — Government by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous people.
In Their Own Words

Quotes

A searchable collection of documented public statements from people covered by the Kakistocracy Files.

5,728Total Quotes in the Archive
AllAlex JonesAlina HabbaAndrew ClydeAnn CoulterAnthony ScaramucciBill BarrBrendan CarrByron DonaldsCharlie KirkChristine O’DonnellChuck GrassleyCorey LewandowskiDan BonginoDonald TrumpDonald Trump Jr.Doug BurgumElise StefanikElon MuskEnrique TarrioEric TrumpGeorge SantosGreg GutfeldHerschel WalkerHillary ClintonHope HicksHoward LutnickIvanka TrumpJack PosobiecJacob ChansleyJames ComerJames ComeyJD VanceJeanine PirroJenna EllisJesse WattersJim JordanJohn EastmanJosh HawleyKari LakeKaroline LeavittKash PatelKayleigh McEnanyKellyanne ConwayKimberly GuilfoyleKristi NoemLaura LoomerLauren BoebertLindsey GrahamLouie GohmertMadison CawthornMarco RubioMarjorie Taylor GreeneMark RobinsonMatt GaetzMehmet OzMichael CohenMichael FlynnMike JohnsonMike LindellMike PenceMo BrooksNancy MaceNewt GingrichPam BondiPaul GosarPete HegsethPeter NavarroRick ScottRobert F. Kennedy Jr.Roger StoneRon DeSantisRon JohnsonRonna McDanielRoy MooreRudy GiulianiRussell VoughtSarah Huckabee SandersSean HannitySean SpicerSebastian GorkaSharron AngleSidney PowellStephanie GrishamStephen MillerSteve BannonSteve KingSteve ScaliseTed NugentTim ScottTom HomanTommy TubervilleTucker CarlsonTulsi GabbardVivek Ramaswamy
161 quotes from Russell Vought
“We are sorting out the legal authorities.”
— Russell Vought
October 3, 2026   •   Vought was discussing preparations for implementing Trump's agenda if Trump returned to office.
ProPublica / Documented
“It is not the case currently.”
— Russell Vought
January 16, 2025   •   Vought argued that the federal bureaucracy did not currently operate with the degree of presidential control he believed the founders intended.
Senate OMB confirmation hearing
“The Trump Administration's deregulatory agenda is the most ambitious in American history.”
— Russell Vought
December 1, 2025   •   Vought's characterization of the administration's regulatory rollback program.
White House / OMB
“I'm giving you my commitment to uphold the laws of this land.”
— Russell Vought
January 16, 2025   •   Vought responded to concerns about whether he would comply with federal spending laws if confirmed as OMB director.
Senate OMB confirmation hearing
“The Left has corrupted our institutions.”
— Russell Vought
October 3, 2026   •   Vought's political characterization.
Center for Renewing America
“They're very, very close hold.”
— Russell Vought
July 1, 2024   •   Vought describing confidential policy plans prepared for a possible future administration.
Centre for Climate Reporting undercover recording
“That comes out to 30-for-1.”
— Russell Vought
August 26, 2025   •   Vought describing the administration's claimed ratio of deregulatory initiatives to new regulations.
White House Cabinet meeting
“The trust level will be there.”
— Russell Vought
July 1, 2024
Centre for Climate Reporting undercover recording
“We are writing the actual regulations now.”
— Russell Vought
October 3, 2026   •   Part of Vought's description of preparations for a second Trump administration.
ProPublica / Documented
“The deep state is weaponized.”
— Russell Vought
October 3, 2026   •   Vought's characterization of federal institutions.
Center for Renewing America
“You have a dysfunctional Congress.”
— Russell Vought
June 1, 2024   •   Vought criticized Congress while discussing his view that significant policymaking power had migrated to executive agencies.
Steve Bannon's War Room / RealClearPolitics transcript
“Absolutely, Senator.”
— Russell Vought
January 23, 2025   •   Vought responding to Senator Lindsey Graham about supporting sufficient defense resources and a larger Navy.
Senate Budget Committee confirmation hearing
“We know what time it is.”
— Russell Vought
October 3, 2026   •   Vought discussing the conservative movement's preparations for a future administration.
Project 2025 / Heritage Foundation
“The President must set and enforce a plan for the executive branch.”
— Russell Vought
October 3, 2026
Project 2025 — Mandate for Leadership
“There are people like me that have his trust.”
— Russell Vought
July 1, 2024   •   Vought discussing his relationship with Trump.
Centre for Climate Reporting undercover recording
“We have to dismantle the administrative state.”
— Russell Vought
October 3, 2026   •   Vought describing his policy objective for the federal bureaucracy.
Public remarks
“Block funding for Planned Parenthood.”
— Russell Vought
July 1, 2024   •   Vought discussing abortion-related policy priorities.
Centre for Climate Reporting undercover recording
“I think it was a sound policy.”
— Russell Vought
January 16, 2025   •   Vought was defending Schedule F, a Trump-era policy designed to make certain policy-related federal employees easier to dismiss.
Senate OMB confirmation hearing
“I'm not here to defend it.”
— Russell Vought
January 23, 2025   •   Vought distinguished a Center for Renewing America budget proposal from the incoming Trump administration's policies.
Senate Budget Committee confirmation hearing
“Puts Americans first.”
— Russell Vought
May 2, 2025   •   Vought describing the administration's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget.
White House / Office of Management and Budget