Kevin McCarthy Corrects Jesse Watters for Claiming Trump Didn’t Endorse Primary Loser: ‘He Did’ 

 

Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy corrected Fox News Jesse Watters, who claimed President Donald Trump did not endorse an incumbent Republican who lost on Tuesday night.

Rep. Cory Mills lost the Republican primary in Florida’s 7th congressional district to Ryan Elijah, a former local television news reporter. Mills is currently the subject of a probe by the House Ethics Committee, which is investigating allegations of domestic violence and harassment. Mills has also been accused of stolen valor and is under scrutiny over his business dealings and financial disclosures. The lawmaker denies wrongdoing. Last year, a judge granted a restraining order against Mills by a former girlfriend, who said Mills threatened to make sexually explicit videos of her public.

Despite this, Trump endorsed Mills’ reelection bid.

McCarthy appeared on Tuesday’s Jesse Watters Primetime as primary election results rolled in. During the interview, Watters noted Mills’ defeat.

“We’re now hearing that Cory Mills, incumbent Republican congressman, has lost,” Watters said. “They’re calling it for his opponent. So, he will no longer be in the House of Representatives. What happened there?”

“Look, that’s a lot of ethic[s] issues,” McCarthy said. “And had he won, that seat could’ve been in jeopardy for Republicans. So, it’s probably a good thing for the Republican Party to hold on to that seat. It would’ve been harder to hold had he kept the [seat].”

“And Trump did not endorse Mills,” Watters said confidently.

“He did,” McCarthy explained. “He just didn’t go out and campaign hard.”

“But Trump endorsed Byron Donalds big time,” Watters responded, quickly pivoting away from Mills and to the congressman who notched the Republican nomination for governor on Tuesday.

Elijah, who defeated Mills, will face Democrat Bale Dalton, who is a former chief of staff for NASA. Florida’s 7th congressional district went for Mills by 13 points over his Democratic opponent in 2024.

Watch above via Fox News.

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Mike is a Mediaite senior editor who covers the news in primetime. Follow him on Bluesky.