'Do you see how scared he is of Trump?' GOP candidate blasted over MAGA about-face
Mike Rogers, a Republican candidate for Senate in Michigan, has built a close relationship with Donald Trump four years after condemning the former president's "responsibility for" the chaotic events of January 6, according to a Sunday CNN report.
"Well, I didn’t say he was clearly responsible for January 6," the former GOP congressman "told CNN last week at a diner in his old House district northwest of Detroit."
He added, "Listen, even Donald Trump said I was tough, but fair. I’ll take that all day long."
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CNN reports that after the attack on the Capitol, Rogers "blamed" the 2024 GOP nominee's "'chaotic leadership style' for costing his party two critical Senate seats in Georgia."
Insisting that Trump "'clearly provoked" the insurrection, Rogers emphasized, "Well, you’re damn right you had responsibility for this."
Now, the senate hopeful chalked up his criticism of the former president to "differences amongst our party," CNN reports.
Rogers' Democratic opponent, Elyse Slotkin slammed the Republican, saying, "Do you see how scared he is of Donald Trump to even split with him on defending the biggest city in your state? It’s sad."
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CNN notes that "Rogers’ evolution on Trump underscores both the former president’s enduring grip on the party and the calculation down-ticket Republicans have made in navigating the polarizing presence atop their ticket. Virtually all of them are aligning themselves with Trump, believing his sway with the GOP base overcomes his baggage with suburban and women voters – and that backing Trump could potentially let them ride his coattails into office."
CNN's full report is available at this link.