President Donald Trump speaks to guests during the Joint Opening Ceremony at the American Veterans (AMVETS) 75th National Convention at the Galt House in Louisville, Ky., on Aug. 21, 2019. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Trump Dismisses Republican Challengers as ‘Three Stooges’

Citing his own high approval ratings, President Trump dismissed his potential opposition in the Republican Party primary race, labeling them on Twitter on Aug. 28 as “Three Stooges,” saying, “I should be able to take them!”

“Can you believe it?” Trump wrote. “I’m at 94 percent approval in the Republican Party, and have Three Stooges running against me.”

“One is ‘Mr. Appalachian Trail’ who was actually in Argentina for bad reasons,” the president wrote, in reference to former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. Sanford famously disappeared for a week in 2009 and later admitted to being in Argentina with his mistress after his spokesperson had claimed he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Can you believe it? I’m at 94% approval in the Republican Party, and have Three Stooges running against me. One is “Mr. Appalachian Trail” who was actually in Argentina for bad reasons…. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2019

Sanford has yet to officially declare he is running against Trump for the Republican candidacy, but last month told the The Post and Courier he was considering entering the primary.

So far two candidates, Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld (R) have officially thrown their hats in the ring.

Continuing in another Twitter post, Trump described Walsh as a “one-time BAD Congressman from Illinois who lost in his second term by a landslide, then failed in radio.”

….Another is a one-time BAD Congressman from Illinois who lost in his second term by a landslide, then failed in radio. The third is a man who couldn’t stand up straight while receiving an award. I should be able to take them! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2019

“The third is a man who couldn’t stand up straight while receiving an award,” Trump added, in what appears to be a reference to then-governor of Massachusetts Weld collapsing in 1996 as he received an honorary law degree from Bentley.

Republican presidential candidate and former Governor of Massachusetts Bill Weld delivers a campaign speech at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines on Aug. 11, 2019. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

So far, Sanford is the only one of the three to respond, writing on Twitter: “So ready for a president that can move beyond either self-praise or put down to one who will focus on the debt & deficit that have gone wild under his time in office. Spending 27 percent above Obama and deficits even higher. It’s time for a change.”

….Another is a one-time BAD Congressman from Illinois who lost in his second term by a landslide, then failed in radio. The third is a man who couldn’t stand up straight while receiving an award. I should be able to take them! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2019

Walsh, a former Trump supporter, lost his radio show on Salem Radio network after declaring his candidacy.

Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) in Washington on May 3, 2017. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Showtime)

According to Radio Ink, Salem is canceling distribution of the show on Sept. 26.

“I figured that might happen,” Walsh told CNN anchor John Berman.

Former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh in an undated photograph. (CNN)

“I’m running for president,” he said. “I oppose this president. Most of my listeners support the president. It’s not an easy thing to do to be in conservative talk radio and oppose this president.”