Former President Trump took issue with his former press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, who criticized her on his Truth Social on Tuesday night, accusing her of sharing inaccurate polls during an appearance on Fox News.
Kayleigh ‘Milktoast’ McEnany just gave the wrong poll numbers on Fox News. I’m up 34 points on DeSanctimonious, not 25 points,” the former president wrote, using his nickname for Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis while misspelling the term milquetoast.
“While 25 is great, it’s not 34. She knew the number had been corrected upwards by the group doing the poll. The RINOS & Globalists can have her. FoxNews may only use REAL stars!!!’ Trump continued.
The term milquetoast describes someone who is seen as dull or weak.
Former aide, McEnany, 35, was the last person to serve in the role of White House press secretary before the Trump presidency ended in January 2021, having started in the role in April 2020.
Former President Trump expressed irritation at his former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany in a Truth Social post after she got the poll numbers wrong
Trump accused McEnany of deliberately sharing inaccurate polls during her appearance on Fox News, describing her as “milktoast” instead of “milquetoast”
Trump suggested that McEnany, who was Trump’s last press secretary before leaving office, knew about the correct polls but chose to share the incorrect information anyway
While acknowledging that a 25-point poll lead is still significant, Trump insisted that the correct number was 34 points.
He went on to say how he thought McEnany knew the correct number, yet went on to share the wrong information before concluding that she was in line with ‘RINOS & Globalists’ and recommended that Fox News contain only ‘REAL Stars’.
During her appearance on the network’s show Outnumbered, McEnany briefly discussed recent polls in Iowa suggesting that DeSantis is narrowing the gap with the former president since he formally announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination last week.
Trump’s former aide was the last person to hold the role of White House press secretary before his presidency came to an end in January 2021 (pictured at a rally in October 2020)
When McEnany was asked last November if Trump should delay his re-election announcement, she said, ‘I think he should absolutely put it on hold’
Former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York on Sunday
“The Desantis team would say that polls just came out showing we closed the nine-point gap since we announced it in Iowa. Yet Trump is vastly ahead, but they say they are closing the gap. If you look at the polls, Trump was 34 in Iowa and now it’s 25. That’s double digits.”
While the poll cited by Trump and McEnany was not identified, a recent survey conducted by Emerson College Polling suggests Trump has a 42-point lead over DeSantis among Iowa voters.
In November, McEnany encouraged Trump to “pause” his presidential campaign, while earlier this month Trump accused McEnany of speaking “favorably of DeSanctimonious.”
Trump’s disparagement of McEnany divided users, even those who previously supported Trump, online
Trump’s disparagement of McEnany divided users, even those who previously supported Trump, online.
“Kayleigh is the nicest person and the best press secretary to ever set foot in the White House. There is NO excuse for humiliating or belittling her to this degree on a few points. I am upset and have no words for words. This erratic behavior is concerning,” Kambree tweeted.
‘No, sorry, you’re wrong…it’s called draining the swamp. She turned for DeSantis! He was very good to her when she worked for him. She turned her back on him. To be better!’ Leelee replied.
Trump made a bigger point. Fox is in the tank for DeSantis. Kayleigh has to drag the line, even if it means twisting numbers that favor DeSantis. Kayleigh, like most, is not rich and has to work to survive. She can’t resist Fox. That is the problem. So she’s decided to pledge allegiance to the money under Fox,” said JCHowell, who sided with Trump.
“He does this to everyone and that’s why some people don’t like him. I wish he would just focus on what’s important and stop getting distracted by insulting people. He just looks bad, not a good PR moment at all,’ IamChristy.
I wish Trump hadn’t said that. I like her and think she deserves better from her former boss,” Kevin Westerlaken wrote.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis kicked off his 2024 presidential campaign on Tuesday with fiery remarks at a megachurch outside Des Moines, Iowa
DeSantis clearly understood the importance of winning Republican primary voters in Iowa if he has any chance of beating Trump in 2024. DeSantis began his presidential campaign in the state where he rallied with supporters outside of Des Moines.
He embarks on a four-day campaign tour that also includes visits to New Hampshire and South Carolina.
DeSantis came forward at gunpoint against President Joe Biden, Democratic policies and took veiled swipes at Donald Trump in his first campaign remarks since announcing his bid last week, as he and wife Casey DeSantis shined in the state.
Florida’s governor railed against the crossing of the border, which increased crime in Democratic cities, COVID-19 drug-use lockdowns, Biden’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan and lamented that the president’s son, Hunter, was already in would be in jail if he were a Republican.
The governor and his wife and first lady Casey DeSantis of Florida sparkled, both with a more casual approach than usual and in matching light blue outfits
He vowed to send Biden “back to his basement,” a callback to the 2020 presidential election, when the president conducted most of his campaign from a makeshift television studio in the basement.
“We cannot allow the inmates to run the asylum,” he said in reference to the country’s current democratic leadership and state.
DeSantis also took lashes at his fellow Republicans, calling House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s debt ceiling agreement with President Biden a way to “steer” the country toward bankruptcy.
He distinguished himself from top competitor and former President Trump by claiming that he is not running for president to become famous.
“Ultimately, leadership isn’t about entertainment,” DeSantis said to loud cheers. “It’s not about building a brand. It’s not about virtue signalling. It’s about results.’
Trump will also arrive in Iowa later this week.