Trump Comes Out Guns Blazing In Support Of Gosar After Congress Censure: ‘Complete And Total Endorsement’

KEY POINTS

Trump said Gosar has his “complete and total endorsement”
Two Republican representatives voted in favor of the censure resolution
Gosar has since taken down the video but has yet to apologize

Former President Donald Trump on Thursday came out in full support of Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., following the House resolution Wednesday that censured the congressman over a video that showed an animated lookalike of himself appearing to attack photoshopped images of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. and President Joe Biden.

In a statement, Trump said Gosar “has been a loyal supporter of our America First agenda, and even importantly, the USA. Paul is a Congressman who is highly respected in Arizona, strong on Crime, Borders, our Military, and our Veterans.”

The former president added that Gosar “continually fights for Lower Taxes, Less Regulations, and our great, but under siege, Second Amendment. Paul Gosar has my Complete and Total Endorsement!” CNN reported.

A day after Rep. Paul Gosar is censured by the House and stripped of his committee assignments, Trump gives the Arizona congressman his "Complete and Total Endorsement!" pic.twitter.com/4Ao5VgK939
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) November 18, 2021

Trump’s statement comes just one day after Congress passed a resolution that censured Gosar after his controversial video drew ire from the Democratic Party.

The censure resolution is considered the most severe form of punishment in the House. More than the censuring, the resolution stripped Gosar of his committee assignments, which deprives censured members of using their platform to have a say in legislation.

In response to Trump’s endorsement, Gosar said he is “humbled” by the former president’s support. “Our struggle to return this nation to greatness is more daunting than ever with the current Administration,” he wrote on Twitter.

Thank you President Trump for this honor. I am humbled to have earned your support, and the support of the American people. Our struggle to return this nation to greatness is more daunting than ever with the current Administration. Together we will save America @TrumpWarRoom https://t.co/29UZqz4Tbv
— Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) November 18, 2021

Gosar has taken down the video, but refused to apologize despite the backlash, The Hill reported. During a speech on the House floor, Gosar insisted that he did not post the video “to make anyone upset,” adding that he only deleted the video “out of compassion for those who genuinely felt offense, I self-censored.”

Republicans Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and Liz Cheney of Wyoming voted in favor of the Democrat-led resolution, marking the 24th time a U.S. lawmaker was censured in the House in the past two centuries.