Former RNC Chair Michael Steele mocks Trump over huge Republican loss in Virginia
Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele had harsh words for President Donald Trump after he criticized the GOP candidate he'd backed in the Virginia gubernatorial election.
Ed Gillespie, who also once served as RNC chair and worked in the George W. Bush administration, lost to Democrat Ralph Northam in Virginia in Tuesday's election for governor.
The president, who had supported Gillespie during the campaign, seemed to turn on the candidate after the loss, suggesting he lost for his failure to embrace the Trump agenda.
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"Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for. Don’t forget, Republicans won 4 out of 4 House seats, and with the economy doing record numbers, we will continue to win, even bigger than before!" Trump said in a tweet shortly after the race was called by major news outlets.
Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for. Don’t forget, Republicans won 4 out of 4 House seats, and with the economy doing record numbers, we will continue to win, even bigger than before!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 8, 2017
But Steele, who has criticized the president before, snapped back.
"Did YOU win Virginia?" Steele asked.
Did YOU win Virginia? https://t.co/ZH8STJ4pEj
— Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) November 8, 2017
The four-word response called the president out for having lost Virginia, which was one of the lone Southern states that supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.
Virginia, which was a reliably Republican-leaning state for decades, has increasingly shifted blue in recent years, awarding its electoral votes to Democrats in the last handful of elections -- including twice for former President Barack Obama.