President Donald Trump blasted conservative mega-donor Koch brothers, tweeting on Tuesday that the billionaire industrialists are a “total joke in real Republican circles” and that he is “a puppet for no one.”
On Monday, the political advocacy network created by the billionaire industrialists announced it would not back the GOP candidate in the North Dakota Senate race.
Their announcement was meant as a warning shot to fellow Republicans that they should do more to elect candidates who challenge government spending — and Trump has fired back with his own warning shot.
“The globalist Koch Brothers, who have become a total joke in real Republican circles, are against Strong Borders and Powerful Trade,” Trump tweeted. “I never sought their support because I don’t need their money or bad ideas.”
The globalist Koch Brothers, who have become a total joke in real Republican circles, are against Strong Borders and Powerful Trade. I never sought their support because I don’t need their money or bad ideas. They love my Tax & Regulation Cuts, Judicial picks & more. I made…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2018
….them richer. Their network is highly overrated, I have beaten them at every turn. They want to protect their companies outside the U.S. from being taxed, I’m for America First & the American Worker – a puppet for no one. Two nice guys with bad ideas. Make America Great Again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2018
He later added: “I’m for America First & the American Worker — a puppet for no one. Two nice guys with bad ideas.”
Trump was expected to travel to Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday to express support for his preferred candidate for governor in a competitive primary. The president was planning a rally in support of congressman Ron DeSantis, who faces off against state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in the state’s Aug. 28 GOP primary.
Another Trump ally, Gov. Rick Scott, is joining the president at an event earlier in the day. Scott is seeking to defeat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in a high-profile Senate race.
Trump has played a role in several Republican primaries, helping candidates in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina in recent weeks with endorsements that underscore his influence within the GOP.
But the president’s policies have been at odds with the Kochs’ political arm, Americans for Prosperity. The group says it still plans to focus its resources on helping Republican Senate candidates in Tennessee, Florida and Wisconsin.
According to The Washington Post, the Koch network revealed over the weekend that they will be distancing themselves from the GOP and focusing less on partisan politics.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.