GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik Pulls Endorsement Of GOP House Candidate After He Criticizes Trump

House Republican leader, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York), rescinded her endorsement from Craig Riedel, a House of GOP candidate, due to the criticisms he made against former President Donald Trump.

On January 4, Stefanik announced on X that she would no longer endorse Riedel.

“Earlier this week, I informed Craig Riedel (Ohio-9) that I will be withdrawing my endorsement,” she wrote. “I was very disappointed in his inappropriate comments regarding President Trump.”

“As we begin 2024, my focus is on ensuring we nominate the strongest candidates on the ballot who are committed to electing President Trump this November and expanding our House GOP Majority,” Stefanik declared.

Riedel is a GOP former state representative running for Congress.

He made it clear in an audio recording that he would not endorse Trump and noted that his habit of insulting others does not seem presidential.

The recording was posted by the right-wing activist Charlie Kirk on X.

“We obtained EXCLUSIVE leaked audio exposing @craig_riedel who is running as a Republican in Ohio’s 9th District, bad-mouthing President Trump while simultaneously showcasing endorsements on his website from some of Trump’s biggest supporters including Jim Jordan and Elise Stefanik,” Kirk wrote.

“A lot of people wonder why Republicans betray their voters when they go to D.C.,” he mentioned. “It’s because many of them are two-faced, lying snakes like Craig Riedel.”

“Riedel’s opponent is @JRMajewski and he’s the only America First MAGA candidate in the race,” the activist stated. “Turning Point Action backs JR 100%.”

Riedel was asked by an anonymous interviewer what he was going to say publicly about his support for Trump.

“Donald Trump is a different person than me,” he claimed. “I don’t like the way he communicates. I think he is arrogant. I don’t like the way he calls people names. I just don’t think that’s very becoming of a president.”

“We need to go a different direction,” Riedel added. “We need people like Craig Riedel.”

Riedel mentioned that he liked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“I can’t understand why he’s not gaining more traction,” he said.

Within the hour of the recording appearing online, Riedel declared that he would endorse Trump and that he was pressured into making statements against the former president.

Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) also revoked his Riedel endorsement.

Additionally, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) publicly stated that he was going to support J.R. Majewski, Riedel’s opponent in the Republican primary.

Majewski lost his bid for Congress in 2022 after it was revealed he fabricated parts of his military record.

“This guy presented himself as a Trump supporter and accepted hundred of thousands in campaign cash knowing he was a closet never-Trumper,” Majewski wrote on X. “Unlike him, I don’t speak in the third person and my campaign won’t lie for campaign contributions. Or run ads out of state.”

Last week, Stefanik refused to commit to accepting the results of the 2024 election.