President Donald Trump issued a veiled threat to Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick during a press gaggle on Wednesday, speaking directly to Fitzpatrick's fiancée, Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich. The incident occurred at Joint Base Andrews as Heinrich pressed Trump on his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Her husband votes against me all the time. Can you imagine?” Trump said to another person in the group. He continued, “I don't know what's with him. You better ask him what's with him,” before incorrectly stating that Heinrich was married to Fitzpatrick. “He likes voting against Trump. You know what happens with that? It doesn't work out well,” the president added.
Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican who has voted against Trump on multiple occasions, responded shortly after the remarks. He told Meidas Touch that Trump's proposed $1.7 billion compensation fund for victims of “lawfare” was “bad news” and that he was working with others to “try and kill it.” Critics have described the fund as a “slush fund” for Trump's allies, including January 6 rioters who were later pardoned.
Trump has recently targeted several Republicans who have broken with him. Representative Thomas Massie lost the most expensive congressional primary in U.S. history on Tuesday after Trump backed his opponent. White House communications director Steven Cheung posted on X: “Do not ever doubt President Trump and his political power. F*** around, find out.” Trump also endorsed Representative Julia Letlow against incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy, who lost his race after voting to convict Trump on impeachment charges.
Last year, Trump turned on Marjorie Taylor Greene after she criticised his handling of the Epstein files. He targeted her through her fiancé, Real America's Voice correspondent Brian Glenn, telling a press event: “You know, you act so good. I love this guy. He’s a great guy, even though I don’t love his girlfriend too much.” Glenn left his role a week later, and Greene resigned from Congress in January.
