Update: Since Rep. Roy’s appearance on Fox News, he has clarified that his intent was not to take a dig at McEnany:
It’s always an an honor to join with a professional like @kayleighmcenany, as I did tonight on @FoxNews, where we discussed the only thing that is actually “milk toast” (sic) – and that’s the bad debt ceiling bill… https://t.co/5YFhjb7oRQ
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) May 31, 2023
Original Story
On Tuesday, Former President Trump took to Truth Social to criticize his former White House Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany. Trump labeled McEnany as “Milktoast,” which is a grammatically incorrect version of the term, “milquetoast.”
According to Merriam-Webster, “milquetoast” can be used as a noun or an adjective meaning a timid, meek, or unassertive person lacking in character or vigor, also: wishy-washy.
McEnany is now an on-air contributor at FoxNews, co-hosting the segment Outnumbered. Trump wrote:
Kayleigh “Milktoast” McEnany just gave out the wrong poll numbers on FoxNews. I am 34 points up on DeSantimonious, not 25 up. While 25 is great, it’s not 34. She knew the number was corrected upwards by the group that did the poll. The RINOS & Globalists can have her. FoxNews should only use REAL Stars!!!
WATCH: Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) takes dig at @kayleighmcenany on Fox News after Trump slammed his former Press Sec:
“The deal hatched this weekend is pretty milquetoast — if that word might mean something to you.”pic.twitter.com/V4YYygTw4P
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 31, 2023
Later, Rep. Chip Roy appeared on Fox speaking to guest-host McEnany on the Inghram Angle, alongside Rep. Byron Donalds to discuss their Freedom Caucus opposition to the debt ceiling deal in Congress. Roy used the on-air opportunity to double down on Trump’s criticism by using the label ascribed to her in his description of the deal. Roy said:
Well thanks, Kayleigh. First of all, everything that we are seeing out of the bill that was put forth, this deal that was hatched this weekend is pretty milquetoast, if that word might mean somethin’ to ya.
Read More:
House Freedom Caucus Slams the Debt Ceiling Deal
Just before Trump’s statement, McEnany mentioned during an interview on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime that the DeSantis campaign argues that they had “closed the gap by nine points since we announced in Iowa,” alleging that Trump’s lead in the state has decreased from 34 points to 25 points since the Florida governor launched his campaign last week.
As RedState reported previously, Emerson College Polling released numbers last week showing Trump dominating in Iowa, with a 42-point lead over DeSantis, claiming 62 percent of the support of polled likely Republican voters. But, the dates on which this survey was conducted had concluded ahead of DeSantis’ official campaign announcement.
On Saturday, Trump’s pollster McLaughlin and Associates, released polls conducted from May 23-25 showing the numbers that McEneny reported. This author cannot find any correction issued from McLaughlin, in media sources, on the pollster’s website, or on the President of McLaughlin and Associates’ social media accounts. It seems that along with misspelling milquetoast, Trump may have erred, citing numbers from April, although the situation remains unclear.
IOWA 2024 TRENDS by Trump's pollster McLaughlin and Associates
April 27-30
• Trump — 54% (+34)
• DeSantis — 20%
• Pence — 7%
• Haley — 5%
• T. Scott — 1%MAY 23-25
• Trump — 49.5% (+25)
• DeSantis — 24.5%
• T. Scott — 6.8%
• Pence — 4.5%
• Haley — 4.2% pic.twitter.com/hvCUY8VQkQ— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) May 28, 2023
Meanwhile, a recent South Carolina poll, the first released after the FL Gov announced his candidacy, showed Trump leading DeSantis, 43-18, by 25 points. Which… “while 25 is great, it isn’t 34.”
The feud between Trump and McEnany is speculated to have begun in February when, during a FoxNews broadcast, the former WH Press Secretary called DeSantis “the hottest Governor in Republican politics,” while urging that he should enter the primary race.
🇺🇲 — THIS: Trump on Truth Social hinting he was bothered when his former Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany praised his main rival Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the past.
"I guess Kayleigh is no longer speaking so favorably about DeSanctimonious now that his polls are shot!" pic.twitter.com/o4hFspkLng
— Belaaz News (@TheBelaaz) April 30, 2023
In April, following Trump’s interview with Tucker Carlson, McEnany praised the former president on social media for his policies. Trump responded on Truth Social, implying that her praise stemmed from DeSantis’ declining poll numbers. Trump wrote, “I guess Kayleigh is no longer speaking so favorably about DeSanctimonious now that his Polls are shot.”
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect Rep. Chip Roy’s clarification as to the intent behind his comment on Fox News.
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