Donald Trump's attack on his former press secretary has cost the former president the endorsement of a Republican lawmaker.
New Hampshire Rep. James Spillane, who earlier this year announced his support for Trump in the 2024 presidential race, said Thursday he’s switching sides and backing the former president’s top rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, The New Hampshire Journal reports.
Spillane cited Trump’s Tuesday social media post assailing former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who he accused intentionally reporting inaccurate poll numbers in her role as a Fox News contributor.
McEnany served as Trump’s top spokesperson for most of the former president’s last year in office and by all accounts was among his most loyal aides before joining the right-wing outlet.
“Kayleigh ‘Milktoast’ McEnany just gave out the wrong poll numbers on FoxNews,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social website.
“I am 34 points up on DeSanctimonious, not 25 up. While 25 is great, it’s not 34. She knew the number was corrected upwards by the group that did the poll. The RINOS & Globalists can have her. FoxNews should only use REAL Stars!!!”
Spillane was on stage with Trump during an April 27 appearance at the Manchester Doubletree when the former president announced that more than 50 New Hampshire GOP House members had endorsed his candidacy.
Spillane cited Trump’s attack on McEnany as the reason for his defection in an interview with the New Hampshire Journal.
He is the fourth New Hampshire state representative to flip on Trump in favor of his top GOP rival in recent weeks, the report said.
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“I can no longer continue endorsing former President Trump,” Spillane said.
“I am officially withdrawing my endorsement, as his most recent attack on Kayleigh McEnany is beyond comprehension and explanation. Against my deepest hopes that Trump had learned some measure of control, he has attacked those who have been his staunchest supporters with no regard for their loyalty.”.
