House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik withdrew her initial endorsement of the Ohio GOP congressional candidate on Thursday after audio surfaced of her criticizing former President Donald Trump as “arrogant.”
Stefanik (R-NY) has endorsed former Rep. Craig Riedel of Ohio for the Buckeye State’s 9th Congressional District battleground back in Julycalling him “the conservative fighter we need.”
“I informed Craig Riedel (OH-09) that I will withdraw my support. I am deeply disappointed by his inappropriate comments about President Trump,” Stefanik posted on X Thursday.
“As we begin 2024, my focus is on making sure we nominate the strongest candidate on the ballot who is committed to electing President Trump this November and expanding our House GOP Majority,” he added.
Riedel was recorded insulting Trump for insulting his political enemies.
We’ve got the EXCLUSIVE leaked audio reveal @craig_riedel who is running as a Republican in Ohio’s 9th District, bad-mouthed President Trump while displaying support on his website from some of Trump’s biggest supporters including Jim Jordan and Elise… pic.twitter.com/ivN1IP8XHn
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) December 8, 2023
Elise Stefanik is the first member of the House GOP leadership to endorse Donald Trump. Facebook / Elise Stefanik
“I think he is arrogant. I don’t like the way he calls people. I just don’t think that’s very presidential,” Riedel said in an audio broadcast last month by conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Riedel, who has been seen as the favorite in the GOP primary to face 21-term incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), next said she doesn’t want the 77-year-old’s endorsement in her race.
“I’m not. We’re not. No,” Riedel responded in the audio when asked, “You’re not looking for Trump’s support, are you?”
Elise Stefanik was a critic of Donald Trump when he first entered the political world in 2015, but has since become one of his staunchest supporters in Congress. Reuters
One day after the statement appearedRiedel endorsed Trump for president and later claimed that he had been tricked.
“[Rep.] Matt Gaetz [R-Fla.] and a social media scammer went on a stunt yesterday to try and convince President Trump to get involved in my congressional election for JR Majewski who proved to be a loser,” he claimed. “Yesterday, a so-called donor called me, making a lot of anti-Trump statements.”
Air Force veteran and pro-Trump hip-hop entertainer Majewski is also competing in the GOP primary for the seat. He lost to Kaptur in 2022 following reports that he had misrepresented his military record.
Stefanik initially supported Riedel’s Congressional bid.
That September, the Associated Press reported that Majewski had claimed to be a “combat veteran” of Afghanistan, although public records show he was never deployed there and instead spent six months at a base in Qatar.
After Majewski argued that his service in Afghanistan was classified and that he often flew deliveries into the country, a follow-up AP story revealed he had been demoted in the military for drunken driving at an air base.
Stefanik’s rejection of Riedel came after Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) also withdrew his support last month.
“Due to recent comments by Craig Riedel, I must withdraw my support for his candidacy. Make America Great Again. AGAIN,” Miller said at the time.
Stefanik first said Riedel was “the conservative fighter we needed.” CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images
Other House Republican leaders also supported Riedel’s campaign, including House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.).
Stefanik has been a staunch Trump supporter and first endorsed him in November 2022, days before he launched his 2024 White House campaign.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
