Rep. Justin Amash Justin AmashInternal Democratic poll shows tight race in contest to replace Amash Centrist Democrats 'strongly considering' discharge petition on GOP PPP bill On The Trail: How Nancy Pelosi could improbably become president MORE (Mich.), who last week announced that he was leaving the Republican Party, responded to President Trump's criticism, saying on Sunday that representatives are elected to defend the Constitution, not Trump.

"He’s really identified what I talk about in my op-ed. He thinks people owe loyalty to him, but people are elected to Congress with an oath to support and defend the Constitution, not an oath to support and defend one person, the president, who happens to be in your own party," Amash told CNN's Jake Tapper Jacob (Jake) Paul TapperThe media's misleading use of COVID-19 data Julia Louis-Dreyfus: 'We can't spend much time grieving' Ginsburg Pence aide dismisses concerns rushed vote on Trump nominee will hurt vulnerable senators MORE Sunday on "State of the Union."

“He thinks that people owe loyalty to him, but people are elected to Congress with an oath to support and defend the Constitution." - Rep. Justin Amash responds to President Trump calling him a "loser" for leaving the GOP #CNNSOTU https://t.co/cnryboY2Yp pic.twitter.com/M9k8uXFFmk — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) July 7, 2019

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Following Amash's announcement that he was leaving the GOP in a Washington Post op-ed last Thursday, Trump tweeted that it was " great news for the Republican party."

Trump also called Amash "one of the dumbest and most disloyal men in Congress," and "a total loser."

Amash on Sunday was measured when asked about Trump's remarks, saying "it's what the president does."

"I think most people understand that’s not how people are supposed to talk about other to each other," Amash said.

Amash had previously been the only member of the Republican Party to call for impeachment proceedings to begin against Trump and was one of the president's most vocal critics within his own party.