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Donald Trump on Thursday made a vaguely sarcastic, if not insincere, public apology to his wife Melania and Fox News host Sean Hannity over reports that he expressed his anger at them for suggesting that he killed Dr. Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania supported.
The former president unleashed against “fictional stories” that suggest he spent much of election night in anger over Republicans’ lackluster display in the midterm elections — which several party members blame him for.
In another post later Thursday morning, he called himself a “stable genius.”
“I want to apologize to Melania and Sean Hannity for all the fake news and fictional stories (made up out of nowhere, with no sources, despite claiming there are!), dumped on you by reporters and “News” organizations that knowing these stories are not true,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social app.
It was one of many posts he posted in the space of an hour.
In another, he simultaneously disputed reports that his elected candidates were struggling, while also denying responsibility for the lack of a “red wave” on Tuesday.
“For those many people who are being told the fake story from the corrupt media that I am angry about the Midterms, don’t believe it,” Trump said. “I’m not mad at all, did a great job (I wasn’t the one running!), and I’m busy looking to the future. Remember, I’m a ‘stable genius’.’
He also targeted Fox News, his former network of choice, after reporting at every major outlet of parent company Fox Corp. highlighted the Republicans’ blaming Trump during the midterm elections.
“For me, Fox News was always gone, even in 2015-16 when I started my ‘journey’, but now they’re really gone. Such an opportunity for another media outlet to make an absolute fortune and do good for America. Let’s see what happens?’ said Trump.
It started just before 2 a.m. on Thursday when he attacked media reports claiming he was unleashing anger at the poor performance of candidates he supported in major races across the country.
Donald Trump lashed out at media reports that he was ‘furious’ on election night over the GOP’s disappointing performance
The former president approved more than 300 candidates in local, state and federal races — many of them sitting in safe seats. So it’s fair to say that a lot of his favorite politicians won.
However, Trump-backed candidates who compete in some of the most sweeping races are either outright lost or still struggling — and fellow Republicans are reportedly holding him accountable.
The New York Times reported Wednesday morning that Trump was “furious” at the appearance of his candidates, especially Dr. Mehmet Oz who failed to keep Republicans in control of Pennsylvania’s open Senate seat. The next day, the outlet reported that Trump’s party members believe he is driving the GOP “off the side of a cliff.”
He accused the Times of running to “enemies and losers” for comment in a few posts on his Truth Social app, just before 1:45 a.m. Thursday morning.
“It’s unbelievable how unfair the fake news media are. The failing New York Times has gone mad,” Trump wrote.
“So many of the people I supported went to victory on Tuesday night, no one was even close, and they are literally making up a story by refusing to write down the facts and only quoting enemies and losers.”
But images taken that night of the former president in Mar-a-Lago suggest he was uneasy
“Almost all the people I supported WON, but if you read the story of two Trump-hating writers (who only do what they’re told!), you wouldn’t even recognize the truth. They are real, THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!!!’
He added in a follow-up post, “…219 WINS to 16 LOSS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, and yet the fake news only writes unrecognizable junk. No wonder they’re all doing so badly!’
Following Oz’s loss to Pennsylvania progressive Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman on Tuesday night, Trump reportedly lashed out at multiple close allies who suggested he support the famed doctor — including Fox News host Sean Hannity and former First Lady Melania Trump. .
In photos of the former president taken that night in Mar-a-Lago, he looks uneasy.
Trump’s endorsement of Oz was critical to winning a competitive GOP first against David McCormick, a more established Republican who was supported by a number of fellow Republicans and even former members of his administration.
He was reportedly upset over the loss of Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania in particular, and reportedly lashed out at Melania Trump and Sean Hannity for suggesting that he support the famous doctor.
Another major loss to Pennsylvania Republicans was Trump-approved candidate Doug Mastriano’s bid for governor
Times reporter Maggie Haberman wrote on Twitter: “It’s worth remembering that Trump is a grown man who supported Oz because of the objection of some of the people closest to him, and instead went beyond alone.” but to endorse Dave McCormick and attack from the podium during a rally.’
Even before the election, Trump was at odds with the more traditional faction of the GOP led by party veterans such as Senate Leader Mitch McConnell.
But now disdain for him among some Republicans is reaching a climax after promises of a “red wave” to beat the House of Representatives and the Senate failed to materialize.
Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, a Trump ally turned critic, told ABC News on Wednesday, “Almost all of these Trump-approved candidates that you see in competitive states have lost.”
“It is a huge loss for Trump. And again, it shows that his political instincts aren’t about the party, it’s not about the country,” Christie said. “They’re about him.”
Former New York Republican Representative Peter King, whose Long Island home did indeed see some big GOP gains in the House, nevertheless told the Times that Trump is to blame for the party’s lackluster performance elsewhere.
“His self-promotion and his attacks on Republicans, including Ron DeSantis and Mitch McConnell, were largely responsible for the Republicans not getting a red wave,” King said.
Trump adviser David Urban told the Times, “Republicans have followed Donald Trump from the edge of a cliff.”
Aside from Oz, Pennsylvania Republicans also saw another major setback with the expected loss of governor candidate Doug Mastriano, who had also been backed by Trump.
Mastriano, who was in Washington when his fellow Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 last year, proved too polarizing for many battlefield state voters.
Trump’s favorite candidates in Arizona, Kari Lake and Blake Masters, are slightly behind their Democratic opponents with their races still too close to mention. It is a state in which the GOP had confidence in seeing big wins.