I agree with Schmidt but there probably isn't anyone in politics more responsible for Trump's rise than him.
It was Campaign Manager Steve Schmidt that picked Sarah Palin to be McCain's running mate in 2008. And when she became mainstream, the Tea Party rose and she was the self-anointed Mom of the Tea Party movement. Out of the Tea Party movement came the Obama birtherism and rise of polarization we have today. Who lead that birtherism with Arpaio? The current President in office. The Republican Party did zilch when that racist Tea Party element rose into power, because they feared of getting primaried and getting run out office so the establishment absorbed the Tea Party. The same Tea Party movement that complained of deficits and debt, have gone completely silent while their racist leader occupies the oval office now.
So yeah, Steve Schmidt can probably go suck a bag of dicks too.