GOP Rep. Blasts Trump for Attacking Losing Candidates: ‘We Lost Those Seats Because of the President’

Speaking on MSNBC Wednesday night, Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA) called out President Donald Trump for mocking the members of Congress who lost the election because they did not embrace him enough.

At a press conference earlier today, Trump called the outgoing members of Congress by name.

“Mia Love gave me no love,” Trump said at one point. “And she lost. Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia.”

He also called out Reps. Peter Roskam and Erik Paulsen, saying of Paulsen that the Congressman “didn’t want the embrace.”

Responding to Trump’s mockery of his colleagues, Costello––who tore into the President on Twitter earlier––said the loss was actually on Trump. He added what the President said was “deplorable.”

“We lost those seats because of the President,” Costello told MSNBC’s Ari Melber. “Those are good members of Congress. I understand some people didn’t vote Republican this time around. But they worked hard, they all had an independent streak, and every single day they were dealing from incoming a lot of hate and a lot of tough stuff said their way. And they did their best. And to have the president of the United States mock them on the way out after a tough campaign, I just think it’s deplorable and it really bothers me.”

Then, a little while later, he said this: “Here’s the real issue, the president chooses to fight everyone. And in this instance, you’re talking about members of Congress who woke up every day and gave their all. And at a certain point in time, you don’t always have to agree with what everyone says or does, but there’s a certain base level of respect that I think everyone serves in Congress should be accorded. And what the president did in the White House today showed a total lack of respect for the members of Congress, many of who are my friends, and it’s just entirely inappropriate.”

Finally, when asked if it goes to Trump’s “moral character,” Costello agreed.

“Well, certainly it’s a character issue,” the Congressman said, before adding when it comes to the question if Republicans should stand up to Trump, he does every day.

Watch above, via MSNBC

[image via screengrab]

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