President Trump gets almost everything wrong about the Kansas special election in a dumbfounding tweet

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Kansas state treasurer Ron Estes (R) won by 7 points in the state's 4th congressional district special election Tuesday. But judging by President Trump's tweet Wednesday morning, you'd think Estes won in a landslide:
That was far from the only aspect of Trump's one-sentence tweet that missed the mark. Estes' win was not exactly as "great" as Trump claimed, and the Republican's narrow victory in the first special election since Trump's inauguration revealed troubles to come for the GOP in future elections.
Moreover, while Democrats may have had their hopes up amid growing dissatisfaction with the Trump administration's rocky first weeks and the deep unpopularity of Kansas' Republican governor, Sam Brownback, it seems an overstatement to say Democrats "predicted victory" in a state that's historically been deep red. In fact, Democratic candidate James Thompson's spokesman even said ahead of the election that Republicans "are absolutely supposed to win this seat."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
As for Trump's claim that Democrats "spent heavily," he may have confused the left for the right. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was actually criticized for how little money it put into the race. The National Republican Congressional Committee, on the other hand, funneled $100,000 into the race — in just the last week.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
'The United States needs to up its game'
Instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass Published
-
'Accepting defeat is Rishi Sunak's only hope of victory'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week Staff Published
-
Royal family website attacked by Russian hackers
Speed Read Pro-Kremlin group claim responsibility just two weeks after King Charles condemns invasion of Ukraine
By The Week Staff Published
-
Dianne Feinstein, history-making Democratic US senator, dies at 90
The Explainer Her colleagues celebrate her legacy as a trailblazer who cleared the path for other women to follow
By Theara Coleman Published
-
Will the cannabis banking bill get the Senate's green light?
Talking Point The SAFER Banking Act is advancing to the US Senate for the first time, clearing a major hurdle for legal cannabis businesses. Does it stand a chance?
By Theara Coleman Published
-
Biden creates White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Speed Read The office will be led by Vice President Kamala Harris
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Rishi Sunak lambasts China after allegations of spy in UK Parliament
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Judge denies Mark Meadows' request to move Georgia case to federal court
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson dies at 75
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Clarence Thomas officially discloses trips from billionaire GOP donor
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Judge schedules Trump federal election plot trial for crowded March 2024
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published