President Donald Trump distanced himself from embattled Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL), who lost his Republican primary to former news anchor Ryan Elijah Tuesday night.
Mills is under a House Ethics Committee investigation over allegations of domestic violence and campaign finance law violations. Fellow Florida Republicans in the House, including Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos, endorsed Elijah’s primary challenge against Mills while Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) refused to back the incumbent.
“I told Congressman Cory Mills of Florida, a friend of mine, to get out of the Race, but he wouldn’t listen,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday morning.
The president previously endorsed Mills in February, calling him an “America First Patriot and Tremendous Champion for the Great People of Florida’s 7th Congressional District!” on Truth Social. In a flurry of social media posts earlier this week re-upping his Florida endorsements, Mills’s name was absent.
Seven months later, Trump had fully changed his tune.
“He thought he could win, so who can blame him?” Trump wrote about Mills on Wednesday before wholeheartedly endorsing Elijah.
“We now have a great candidate, Ryan Elijah, running in his place!” Trump continued. “Ryan stands for EVERYTHING [Make America Great Again], and is respected by ALL. He has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
Mills is a two-term incumbent lawmaker representing the suburbs between Daytona Beach and Orlando, but he was plagued by reports of an ex-girlfriend accusing him of releasing revenge pornography against her after they broke up. Another woman filed an assault report against him, although no charges were filed. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Luna and Haridopolos’s joint statement endorsing Elijah did not mention Mills but alluded to his troubles.
RYAN ELIJAH BEATS EMBATTLED CORY MILLS IN ANOTHER OUSTING OF AN INCUMBENT
“We need leaders in Congress who serve with integrity, energy, and an unwavering commitment to the people who sent them there,” they wrote. Ryan Elijah is that leader. We are confident he will represent our shared values with distinction and deliver results for the families of Seminole and Volusia Counties.”
Elijah is set to face off against Democrat Bale Dalton in the general election contest. Trump carried the seat by 13 points in 2024.