House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik on Thursday withdrew her initial support for an Ohio Republican congressional candidate after an audio clip of her criticizing former President Donald Trump as “arrogant.”
Stefanik (R-N.Y.) supported former Ohio Rep. Craig Riedel in the Buckeye State's battleground 9th Congressional District race. back in julypraised him as “the conservative warrior we need.”
“I have informed Craig Riedel (OH-09) that I am withdrawing my support. I am extremely disappointed in his inappropriate comments regarding President Trump.” Stefanik posted on X Thursday.
“As 2024 begins, my focus is on ensuring we nominate the strongest candidate on the ballot who is committed to electing President Trump and expanding the House Republican majority this November. Yes,” he added.
Riedel was recorded swearing at President Trump's political opponents, accusing them of hurling insults.
“I think he's arrogant. I don't like the way he calls people by name. I don't think that's very presidential,” Riedel said in an audio that was disseminated last month by conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Ta.
Riedel was seen as the front-runner to face 21-term incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) in the Republican primary, but said she did not want the 77-year-old to support her in the race. .
“No, we're not. “No,” Riedel said in an audible response to the question, “We're not asking for Trump's support, right?”
one day After the statement surfacedRiedel supported President Trump, but later claimed that Trump had been deceived.
“[Rep.] matt gates [R-Fla.] “And yesterday, social media tricksters pulled a stunt to try to convince President Trump to enter the Congressional primary against proven loser J.R. Majewski.” insisted. “Yesterday, I received a call from a so-called donor who made a number of anti-Trump statements.”
Majewski, an Air Force veteran and pro-Trump hip-hop performer, is also vying for the seat in the Republican primary. He lost to Kaptur in 2022 following reports that he misrepresented his war record.
In September of that year, the Associated Press claimed Majewski was an Afghanistan “veteran,” but public records show he was never deployed to Afghanistan and instead spent six months at a base in Qatar. It was reported that.
After Majewski claimed that his service in Afghanistan was classified and that he frequently transported packages to the country, a subsequent report by the Associated Press accused the military of driving drunk on an air base. It was revealed that he was demoted from
Stefanik's decision not to endorse Riedel comes after Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) similarly withdrew his support last month.
“Due to Craig Riedel's recent comments, I must withdraw my support for his candidacy. Make America Great Again. Also,” Miller said at the time..
Other House Republican leaders, including House Majority Leader Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), also support Riedel's campaign.
Stefanik is an avid Trump supporter who proactively announced her support for Trump in November 2022, just days before Trump began campaigning for the White House in 2024.
