GOP Rep. Steve King, losing donors left and right, retains the support of Ted Cruz
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) lost Land O'Lakes, Purina, and Intel Corp., but he's still got Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
In the wake of the mass murder of 11 congregants at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday, there has been renewed attention to white nationalist statements King has made, like "we can't restore our civilization with somebody else's babies." Several companies said they will no longer make any political contributions to King, who has also retweeted neo-Nazis, and he was denounced by National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio). "We must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms, and I strongly condemn this behavior," Stivers said Tuesday.
King told Bloomberg News on Wednesday that in the midst of all this, Cruz called him and offered his support. During the 2016 Republican primaries, King backed Cruz, and was co-chair of his Iowa campaign. Cruz's campaign spokeswoman said he did make a "personal call" to King, and he reiterated what he told reporters in Texas earlier in the day — that King's comments have been "disappointing" and he's "saying and doing things that are dividing us, that are pulling us apart." Cruz's campaign did not outright condemn King's statements or actions.
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.
King was adamant with Bloomberg that his re-election is not in trouble, scoffing at a poll that has him just 1 point ahead of his Democratic challenger, J.D. Scholten, saying he has an internal poll giving him an 18-point advantage. He applauded President Trump for saying he'll do away with birthright citizenship, and said he has the power to do so, despite constitutional experts saying no. King directed much of his ire at Stivers, saying he didn't give any examples of racist things he said. "If you attack someone and you don't cite anything, you're just a cannibal," King said. "That's all you are." He also warned that certain scores "can be settled after the election."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
The Spanish cop, 20 million euros and 13 tonnes of cocaine
In the Spotlight Óscar Sánchez Gil, Chief Inspector of Spain's Economic and Tax Crimes Unit, has been arrested for drug trafficking
By The Week UK Published
-
5 hilarious cartoons about the rise and fall of Matt Gaetz
Cartoons Artists take on age brackets, backbiting, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The future of X
Talking Point Trump's ascendancy is reviving the platform's coffers, whether or not a merger is on the cards
By The Week UK Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published