Republican nominee Donald Trump refused to endorse Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), who are both up for reelection this year.
“I’ve never been there with John McCain because I’ve always felt that he should have done a much better job for the vets,” Trump told the Washington Post on Tuesday. “He has not done a good job for the vets and I’ve always felt that he should have done a much better job for the vets. So I’ve always had a difficult time with John for that reason, because our vets are not being treated properly. They’re not being treated fairly.”
Trump told the Post that Ayotte was weak and disloyal.
“New Hampshire is one of my favorite places,” Trump stated about Ayotte’s state — Trump’s first primary victory where he won big. “You have a Kelly Ayotte who doesn’t want to talk about Trump, but I’m beating her in the polls by a lot. You tell me. Are these people that should be representing us, okay? You tell me.”
He added:
I don’t know Kelly Ayotte. I know she’s given me no support — zero support — and yet I’m leading her in the polls. I’m doing very well in New Hampshire. We need loyal people in this country. We need fighters in this country. We don’t need weak people. We have enough of them. We need fighters in this country. But Kelly Ayotte has given me zero support, and I’m doing great in New Hampshire.
Ayotte’s campaign told the Post that she plans to vote for Trump.
Both Ayotte and McCain were critical of Trump’s response to the Khans, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention about losing their son in combat, and blasted Trump.
“I call it like I see it and I’m always going to stand up for our military families and what’s best for the people of New Hampshire,” Ayotte responded.