Former President Donald Trump has endorsed the reelection bid of Representative Michael McCaul, despite the Republican’s previous denouncement of Trump for his actions on January 6.
McCaul was one of three GOP Texas congressmen whom Trump endorsed on Thursday. Although McCaul did not vote in favor of Trump’s second impeachment, where he was charged with inciting the U.S. Capitol riot, he issued a statement condemning the former president’s “rhetoric and behavior” and explained that he voted against the impeachment because it was rushed, while urging a “peaceful transition of power” for the incoming Joe Biden.
Trump made no mention of McCaul’s assessment of his behavior on January 6 in the endorsement.
“Michael McCaul is doing an incredible job for the great State of Texas,” Trump said in a statement. “He works hard to protect our Borders, defend our now under siege Second Amendment, and support our brave Military and Vets. He will fight for our America First agenda, stand up to China, and hold Joe Biden accountable for his incompetent failure in Afghanistan. Michael McCaul has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
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Trump endorsed Representatives Pat Fallon and John Carter on the same day. Both Fallon and Carter were among the 147 Republicans in Congress who objected to the certification of Biden’s win on January 6. McCaul did not object to the certification, explaining that doing so would “set a dangerous precedent that could call into question the very institution of our democracy.”
When the former president was impeached by the House for a historic second time one week after the Capitol assault took place, McCaul issued a statement blasting Trump for his actions on “that tragic day.” The Texas Republican made it clear he was not voting in favor of Trump’s impeachment only because he believed the impeachment proceedings happened too quickly.
“I strongly condemn the president’s rhetoric and his behavior,” McCaul said on January 13. “There very well may have been impeachable offenses committed leading up to, and on, that tragic day. But we have not been given the time to truly look at the facts and the evidence before this impeachment was hurried to the House floor.”
He went on, “I will, with a heavy heart, oppose impeachment at this time. I did not come to this decision lightly. And I truly fear there may be more facts that come to light in the future that will put me on the wrong side of this debate. It’s time for the nation to heal as we prepare for the peaceful transition of power.”
Although McCaul has been a critic of Biden since he took office, his views on the president have not been uniformly negative. In February, McCaul was one of several Republicans who praised Biden for launching airstrikes on Iran-backed militia members in Syria. The congressman thanked the president for “protecting Americans overseas.”
Newsweek reached out to Trump’s office for comment but did not hear back before publication.
