(Joshua Paladino, Headline USA) Former President Donald Trump sparked fury on April 9 among his most loyal followers when he endorsed Dr. Mehmet Oz, a squishy conservative, in Pennsylvania‘s Republican Senate primary, the Daily Beast reported.
America First Republicans noted that Oz has flipped from being pro-abortion to pro-life, has not taken a strong stance against illegal immigration, and once described himself as a “moderate Republican” in line with former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Sean Parnell, a former candidate in the race, said Trump should not have endorsed Oz.
I have enormous respect for President Trump. I was honored to have his endorsement in PA.
Twice
But I’m disappointed by this. Oz is the antithesis of everything that made Trump the best president of my lifetime—he’s the farthest thing from America First & he’d be very bad for PA https://t.co/kuTo4pp53U— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellUSA) April 9, 2022
Parnell had received Trump’s endorsement in the race to replace GOP Sen. Pat Toomey, but he dropped out due to marital issues.
Oz’s next-biggest rival is former hedge-fund CEO Dave McCormick, who has the backing of Hope Hicks, Trump’s former White House communications director.
However, McCormich he supports free trade—including the Trans-Pacific Partnership—and more legal immigration.
The globalist businessman has been particularly weak on China, regarded by Trump and his backers as the greatest geopolitical threat to American democracy following its role in the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
That likely makes Oz the lesser of two undesirable choices in the primary race as Democrats look to the Keystone State as an opportunity to stave off their projected congressional losses elsewhere.
Some may even see moderate Democrat Rep. Conor Lamb as a more conservative option, should he secure his party’s nomination.
Former Trump Senior Advisor Stephen Miller was working with McCormick’s campaign until Trump announced his support for Oz.
Several Trump supporters blamed the endorsement on bad advice from his staff.
It’s like Donald Trump’s staff is sabotaging Trump by convincing him to make the worst possible endorsements.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) April 10, 2022
Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., who lost Trump’s endorsement because he stated that Republicans should move past the fraud that marred the 2020 elections, also voiced his opposition to Oz.
“This is happening because Trump’s surrounded himself by staff who are on McConnell’s payroll & hostile to the MAGA agenda,” Brooks said.
“Everybody telling Trump who to endorse in primaries works for The Swamp,” he added. “They played him. Again.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., stayed out of the dispute.
“I think we’re in a good position to win that race regardless of who the nominee is,” he said.
