Former President Donald Trump took aim at his former press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, after she cited poll numbers that he claimed were false.
McEnany, now a Fox News co-host, made the remarks regarding Iowa poll numbers for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Tuesday.
“The DeSantis team would say, you know, ‘We just had polling come out that shows we closed the gap by 9 points since we announced in Iowa,” McEnany stated. “Still, Trump’s hugely ahead, but they say they’re closing the gap. That’s their argument… If you look at the polling now, it was Trump 34 in Iowa, it’s now Trump 25.”
Trump reacted on Truth Social, dismissing her as “milktoast,” a misspelling of “milquetoast,” meaning wishy-washy: “Kayleigh ‘Milktoast’ McEnany just gave out the wrong poll numbers on FoxNews. I am 34 points up on DeSanctimonious, not 25 up. While 25 is great, it’s not 34. She knew the number was corrected upwards by the group that did the poll. The RINOS & Globalists can have her. FoxNews should only use REAL Stars!!!”
“A survey conducted by Trump pollsters McLaughlin and Associates and released Saturday evening shows the former president with 49.5 percent support from Republican voters in Iowa,” The Daily Mail noted on Sunday. “DeSantis, on the other hand, earned 24.5 percent – coming in second place with 25 points fewer than his top competitor.”
Trump was heavily criticized by many conservatives for his attack on McEnany:
“Attacking Kayleigh McEnany is insane. She’s–was one of the best press secretaries ever…She was fantastic, but she’s an analyst now. She doesn’t work for any campaign,” Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade reacted.
Jenna Ellis, who had served as Trump’s legal advisor, tweeted, “I will simply leave this here for when people ask why I and *many* others didn’t return for 2024.”
“Kayleigh was one of the only voices defending Trump on CNN when he ran in 16,” political commentator Guy Benson wrote. “I often disagreed with her, but she was prepared, relentless & unafraid of being heavily outnumbered. She then served Trump as chief spokesperson when he was president. She also likes DeSantis.”
Kayleigh was one of the only voices defending Trump on CNN when he ran in 16. I often disagreed with her, but she was prepared, relentless & unafraid of being heavily outnumbered. She then served Trump as chief spokesperson when he was president. She also likes DeSantis. Result: pic.twitter.com/ZwToHGOvpm
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) May 31, 2023
“When Kayleigh McEnany was Press Secretary under Trump, MAGA loved posting videos of destroying the regime propagandists,” pundit Mike Cernovich declared. “Now she’s ‘milk toast.’ Christina Pushaw went from BASED to traitor. This is garbage. Those of you going along with it have no honor.”
When Kayleigh McEnany was Press Secretary under Trump, MAGA loved posting videos of destroying the regime propagandists. Now she’s “milk toast.” Christina Pushaw went from BASED to traitor. This is garbage. Those of you going along with it have no honor.
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) May 31, 2023
Chad Prather of The Blaze added, “This is pathetic. I don’t care who you are. This is unacceptable and unhinged. @kayleighmcenany took bullets for this man. We have a guy in the White House destroying the country and you go after her?!?!? It’s becoming an absolute joke.”
This is pathetic. I don’t care who you are. This is unacceptable and unhinged. @kayleighmcenany took bullets for this man. We have a guy in the White House destroying the country and you go after her?!?!? It’s becoming an absolute joke. pic.twitter.com/GBNyUCQHy3
— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) May 31, 2023