Rep. Mark Sanford Mark SanfordOn The Money: Business world braces for blue sweep | Federal Reserve chief to outline plans for inflation, economy | Meadows 'not optimistic' about stalemate on coronavirus deal Trump critic Sanford forms anti-debt advocacy group Republicans officially renominate Trump for president MORE (R-S.C.), a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, on Sunday slammed President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE’s threats to support a primary challenger against him in 2018.

“I think that those kinds of threats are counterproductive,” Sanford, who last month planned to vote against the proposed GOP measures to repeal and replace ObamaCare, told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Sanford reiterated what he told a South Carolina newspaper last month: that White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney Mick MulvaneyMick Mulvaney to start hedge fund Fauci says positive White House task force reports don't always match what he hears on the ground Bottom line MORE said Trump hoped Sanford would vote against the repeal-and-replace measures so the president could throw his weight behind a challenger.

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"The president asked me to look you square in the eyes and to say that he hoped that you voted ‘no’ on this bill so he could run [a primary challenger] against you in 2018," Sanford quoted Mulvaney as saying at the time.

Sanford, who has not been shy about criticizing Trump, noted on Sunday that he works for the residents of his district, not the president of the United States.

“I don’t work for him,” Sanford said. “I work for about 750,000 people in the first congressional district.”

Sanford also rejected suggestions from a libertarian website that he should run against Trump in 2020.

“This is news to me, so you’re making news. I’ve never heard of the website,” Sanford told Dana Bash.

“No, I’m going to try to run for Congress. I’ve already got two primary challengers,” he added.