Trump calls Rep. Chip Roy a 'RINO,' floats idea of a primary challenger — but there's a problem

Former President Donald Trump targeted GOP Rep. Chip Roy of Texas on social media, apparently indicating that he would like to see the lawmaker face a primary challenger. Trump called the conservative congressman a RINO, which is an acronym that stands for "Republican in name only."

"Has any smart and energetic Republican in the Great State of Texas decided to run in the Primary against RINO Congressman Chip Roy. For the right person, he is very beatable. If interested, let me know!!!" Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. In another post, Trump referred to the legislator as "lightweight Congressman Chip Roy."

The filing deadline for primary candidates was December 11 at 6:00 p.m.

According to Politico, Roy is not facing any primary challengers.

Earlier this year, Roy endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president before DeSantis had announced his White House bid.

Roy, who is campaigning for DeSantis in Iowa, appeared with the Sunshine State governor on an episode of Fox News Channel's "Hannity," hosted by Kayleigh McEnany, on Monday night.

Trump has been crushing the other GOP presidential primary candidates in polls, but Roy told McEnany that Iowans, not polls, will determine the outcome of the contest. "We're for principles not princes. We don't coronate anybody. We don't let polls decide. It's the American people through this process," he noted.

When BlazeTV host Steve Deace asked Roy for his reaction to Trump's comments, Roy accused Trump of "hiding in his basement alongside Joe Biden," saying that Trump does not want to face DeSantis, who "would clean his clock." Later, Roy used the term "gasbag," apparently referring to Trump.

While DeSantis participated in all four Republican National Committee-affiliated GOP presidential primary debates earlier this year, Trump opted to skip them.

In a post on X, DeSantis declared that Roy "is fighting to do what Donald Trump promised to do—secure our southern border—the former president is on social media demanding a primary challenge to one of the most conservative members of Congress (even though the Texas primary filing deadline was over a week ago.)"

"I stand with @chiproytx," GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky tweeted. "He fights for what he believes and he's one of the most conservative members of Congress. I can tell you with certainty that this shortsighted effort to intimidate Chip will not work." Massie also backed DeSantis for president before the Florida governor had announced a presidential bid.

In 2021, Trump, who had been supporting Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) for the House Republican Conference chair slot, poured cold water on Roy's bid for the role.

"Can't imagine Republican House Members would go with Chip Roy—he has not done a great job, and will probably be successfully primaried in his own district. I support Elise, by far, over Chip!" Trump said in a statement.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!