Trump and GOP leaders clash over whether or not the party’s midterm performance was a success
Former President Donald Trump is lauding the midterm election performances of the far-right candidates he endorsed, but political strategists are arguing otherwise.
According to Business Insider, the clash began with a Truth Social post from Trump. In the fiery rant, the former president pushed back against a New York Times for criticizing the midterm performance of his candidates.
"So many of the people I Endorsed went on to victory on Tuesday Night, nobody was even close, and they literally make up a story refusing to write the facts, and only quoting enemies and losers," he said.
Trump went on to suggest nearly all of his endorsed candidates won their races.
"Almost all of the people I endorsed WON, yet if you read the story from two Trump-hating writers (who only do as they are told!), you would not even recognize the truth. They truly are, THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!!!" he wrote of the news outlet.
Despite Trump's arguments, Insider points out: "Trump endorsed more than 200 candidates elections, many of whom were running in safe seats where GOP candidates were expected to win regardless of who endorsed them. Of the candidates he endorsed in competitive races, the results were mixed."
Key candidates Trump endorsed also did not produce the so-called "red wave" the party expected. Dr. Mehmet Oz, who ran against Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D), suffered a substantial loss that could impact the party's ability to regain control of the Senate.
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Herschel Walker, a Trump-backed Senate candidate in Georgia, is now facing a run off against Democratic incumbent, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).
The outlet also noted how the quality of Trump's candidate pool may have impacted the outcomes.
"Overall, the Republican 'red wave' of sweeping gains in the election that some analysts were anticipating did not arrive, and some Republicans moved to blame Trump," the news outlet reported. "They say the candidates he selected were poor quality and put off voters, with many having checkered pasts and embracing fringe views and conspiracy theories outside the political mainstream."
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