President Trump isn’t a big fan of Texas Congressman Chip Roy and called for the Republican lawmaker to be primaried on Monday night.
However, the 45th President won’t get his wish next year because the deadline for filing passed a week ago.
Trump demands primary of pro-DeSantis Rep. Chip Roy — but it’s too late https://t.co/UnDdvDHYO4 pic.twitter.com/I30xUUCeu3
— New York Post (@nypost) December 19, 2023
From NBC News:
“Has any smart and energetic Republican in the Great State of Texas decided to run in the Primary against RINO Congressman Chip Roy. For the right person, he is very beatable. If interested, let me know!!!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social late Monday after Roy appeared in Iowa in support of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign.
Roy is running unopposed in the Republican primary in Texas’ 21st district in March after no other candidate filed ahead of the Dec. 11 deadline.
Trump’s late-night Truth Social post came after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared on Fox News alongside Roy, who has been traversing Iowa with the GOP presidential contender during his congressional holiday break.
CHIP ROY: Ron DeSantis “will actually sign” border security legislation “unlike Pres. Trump, who in 2018, was siding with Paul Ryan to try to pass an amnesty-first rather than a border security-first bill, which left us with the situation we’re facing right now” pic.twitter.com/hvYbU2OLrK
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) December 19, 2023
“People are thirsty for a new generation and new vision. Looking forward, not looking backwards, somebody who can serve for eight years,” Roy said on Fox News.
Roy, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, was the first member of Congress to endorse DeSantis’ presidential bid back in March.
DeSantis praised Roy for having “one of the most consistent and strong conservative records” when asked about Trump’s comments during a campaign stop in Iowa on Tuesday.
“I do think it shows that you know, with Trump, it’s all about if you kiss the ring,” DeSantis said, noting that the former president has attacked another one of his prominent supporters, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. “Attacking Chip, just because he’s supporting me, even though these are both people that have done really good work.”
Trump has been publicly critical of Roy since he voted to affirm Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory Jan. 6, 2021. Roy called Trump’s actions “clearly impeachable conduct” in the immediate aftermath of the riot at the U.S. Capitol, though he ultimately voted to not impeach Trump.
With the Iowa caucuses less than a month away, Trump has been increasingly critical of DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley on the campaign trail. Taking to Truth Social on Monday night,
Trump compared DeSantis to a wounded bird violently falling from the sky and called his campaign staff a group of “misfits and grifters.”
Donald Trump mocked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, calling him a 'wounded falling bird' at a rally in Iowa. On Saturday, both Trump and DeSantis held campaign events in the state ahead of the upcoming caucuses in January.
Read more here 👉 https://t.co/0gN4NfrGsA pic.twitter.com/PCCRbE881S
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 3, 2023
DeSantis defended Roy, calling him one of the most conservative members of Congress.
While @chiproytx is fighting to do what Donald Trump promised to do—secure our southern border—the former president is on social media demanding a primary challenge to one of the most conservative members of Congress (even though the Texas primary filing deadline was over a week… https://t.co/iRMScs3Tkr
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) December 19, 2023
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