Trump knocks Flake in congratulating McSally on Arizona win

President Trump took a shot at retiring Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake (R) on Wednesday following Rep. Martha McSally’s (R-Ariz.) victory in the state’s GOP Senate primary.

The president tweeted just after midnight Wednesday morning that McSally, who ran on her loyalty to the president, “rejected” an endorsement from Flake in the primary.

“Martha McSally, running in the Arizona Primary for U.S. Senate, was endorsed by rejected Senator Jeff Flake….and turned it down – a first! Now Martha, a great U.S. Military fighter jet pilot and highly respected member of Congress, WINS BIG. Congratulations, and on to November!” Trump wrote.

Martha McSally, running in the Arizona Primary for U.S. Senate, was endorsed by rejected Senator Jeff Flake….and turned it down – a first! Now Martha, a great U.S. Military fighter jet pilot and highly respected member of Congress, WINS BIG. Congratulations, and on to November!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2018

Flake responded just more than an hour later, refuting Trump’s claim that he endorsed McSally and adding that his last endorsement was for Alabama Sen. Doug Jones (D), who defeated a Trump-backed GOP challenger, Roy Moore.

“Sorry, @realDonaldTrump. I made no endorsement in this race. I think the last endorsement I made was in the Alabama race,” he wrote.

Sorry, @realDonaldTrump. I made no endorsement in this race. I think the last endorsement I made was in the Alabama race.https://t.co/yob5VVNAOe pic.twitter.com/KbzKAGRdDB

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) August 29, 2018

McSally handily won Tuesday night’s Arizona Senate primary, defeating GOP candidates Kelli Ward and former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was pardoned by the president earlier this year after being found in contempt of court over racially motivated traffic stops.

{mosads}While Flake did not endorse McSally directly, he did express his desire for the Arizona lawmaker to prevail in the primary in comments to reporters on Tuesday.

“I think McSally will win. I hope she does. That’s the only shot that obviously Republicans have to hold on to the seat, but it’s even difficult then. This is going to be a hard-fought general election,” Flake said.

“I think long term if we don’t appeal to a broader electorate and quit trying to drill down harder on the base and just, you know, give into the politics of anger and resentment, we’re gonna lose big time long term,” he added.