President Trump on Wednesday called out by name several GOP House lawmakers who lost their reelection bids the night before, saying they failed because they distanced themselves from his administration and policies.
“You had some that decided to, let’s stay away, let’s stay away. They did very poorly,” Trump said at a press conference at the White House. “I’m not sure that I should be happy or sad, but I feel just fine about it.”
{mosads}Trump specifically mentioned Republican Reps. Carlos Curbelo (Fla.), whose name he mispronounced, and Mike Coffman (Colo.), both of whom lost in contested congressional races on Tuesday evening.
Trump also called out by name defeated GOP Reps. Mia Love (Utah), Barbara Comstock (Va.), Peter Roskam (Ill.), Eric Paulsen (Minn.) and John Faso (N.Y.), as well as Bob Hugin, a Republican Senate candidate who challenged Sen. Bob Menendez in New Jersey.
“I saw Mia Love, she called me all the time to help her with a hostage situation, being held hostage in Venezuela,” Trump said. “But Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost. Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia.”
“Barbara Comstock was another one,” he continued. “I think she could have won that race but she didn’t want to have an embrace. For that, I don’t blame her.”
“But she lost – substantially lost,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, Trump credited himself for campaigning for House candidates who won in tough races, including Republican Rep. Andy Barr in Kentucky.
“For the most part I didn’t campaign for the House, but I did actually make a special trip for Andy Barr because he was in a very tough race in Kentucky, and he won,” Trump said.