Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC)) announced Thursday that he will not be seeking reelection following the end of his term in Congress.

“This was a decision I struggled with greatly. These last 8 years, I have been so blessed to serve the people of NC-11 and help give a voice to millions of Americans who feel Washington, D.C. has forgotten them,” he said in a statement.

.@MarkMeadows is my best friend in Congress. He fights for everything that makes our country special. He’ll be sorely missed in Congress by the people of North Carolina and across the nation. God’s blessings to him and Debbie on whatever the future holds. https://t.co/qhoEctQWJu — Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) December 19, 2019

During a contentious debate Wednesday, Meadows defended President Donald Trump as the House was readying to vote for his impeachment.

Today will be remembered as the day your House Democrat majority voted to impeach President @realDonaldTrump for a crime they couldn’t find and a case they couldn’t prove. You won’t forget. And neither will we. — Mark Meadows (@MarkMeadows) December 19, 2019

“Today will be remembered as the day your House Democrat majority voted to impeach President Donald Trump for a crime they couldn’t find and a case they couldn’t prove,” Meadows wrote on Twitter Wednesday, “You won’t forget. And neither will we.”

"When all is said & done, when the history of this impeachment is written, it will be said my Democrat friends couldn’t bring themselves to work w/ @realDonaldTrump so they consoled themselves instead by silencing the will of those who did:the American people." – @RepMarkMeadows pic.twitter.com/29O3bR8pkQ — Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) December 18, 2019

The House Freedom Caucus co-founder has long stood by President Trump and he said in his statement that he will continue to do so.

5 years, and counting. Wouldn’t trade them for anything. pic.twitter.com/jpIrmTNklx — Ben Williamson (@_WilliamsonBen) December 19, 2019

“My work with President Trump and his administration is only beginning. This President has accomplished incredible results for the country in just 3 years, and I’m fully committed to staying in the fight with him and his team to build on those successes and deliver on his promises for the years to come. I’ve always said Congress is a temporary job, but the fight to return Washington, D.C. to its rightful owner, We The People, has only just begun,” he said.