Trump says Republican House candidates who lost should have embraced him

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump a dominant force in midterms President Donald Trump was a dominant force in the midterm elections as attitudes toward him influenced the decisions of more than 6 in 10 voters. According to AP VoteCast, women voted considerably more in favor of Democratic candidates. (Nov. 6)

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump suggested House Republicans lost seats in the midterm elections because they didn't embrace his presidency, singling some of them out by name Wednesday.

"The candidates that I supported achieved tremendous success," Trump said.

Others, the president said during a White House news conference, may have lost their seats because they kept their distance. Trump called out several by name, including Rep. Barbara Comstock, whose district was the first Democratic pickup.

"I think she should have won that race, but she didn't want to have any embrace," Trump said of the two-term congresswoman who represents a swing district in Northern Virginia. "For that, I don't blame her, but she lost."

The news conference, a tradition for presidents after a midterm election, came hours after Democrats captured control of the House for the first time in eight years but lost seats in the GOP-controlled Senate.

Trump mentioned several others he suggested may have lost because they hesitated to campaign on his agenda.

"Mia Love," Trump said of the Utah congresswoman who trailed Democrat Ben McAdams. "Mia Love gave me no love. And she lost. Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia."

Trump also called out Reps. Peter Roskam, R-Ill., and Erik Paulsen, R-Minn.

"Erik Paulsen didn't want the embrace," Trump said.

Trump said the Republicans' performance overall "defied history," and he applauded Republican Senate pickups in Indiana, North Dakota and Missouri.

Unfurling his characteristic combativeness, Trump offered little of the humility past presidents of both parties have displayed after suffering electoral defeats.

How the president views the results probably will inform how he approaches the next two years as he heads into re-election in 2020.

Rep. Ryan Costello, R-Pa., who will retire at the end of his term, fired back at Trump on Twitter.

"To deal w harassment & filth spewed at GOP" members of Congress "every day for 2 yrs, bc of POTUS ... angers me to my core," he wrote.

To deal w harassment & filth spewed at GOP MOC’s in tough seats every day for 2 yrs, bc of POTUS; to bite ur lip more times you’d care to; to disagree & separate from POTUS on principle & civility in ur campaign; to lose bc of POTUS & have him piss on u. Angers me to my core. — Ryan Costello (@RyanCostello) November 7, 2018

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