Steve King fires back at GOP campaign chief: ‘Establishment Never Trumpers are complicit’

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) responded Tuesday after he was condemned by a top House Republican, claiming that attacks against him “are orchestrated by nasty, desperate, and dishonest fake news.”

King also said that the “goal” is to impeach President Trump and “Establishment Never Trumpers are complicit.”

{mosads}“Americans, all created equal by God, with all our races, ethnicities, and national origins-legal immigrants & natural born citizens, together make up the Shining City on the Hill. These attacks are orchestrated by nasty, desperate, and dishonest fake news. Their ultimate goal is to flip the House and impeach Donald Trump. Establishment Trumpers are complicit,” he wrote in a statement posted to Twitter. 

King Response pic.twitter.com/H8iXI3cM1x

— Steve King (@SteveKingIA) October 30, 2018

Earlier Tuesday, Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) — chairman of the House GOP campaign arm — condemned King for his recent comments in support of white nationalists.

“Congressman Steve King’s recent comments, actions, and retweets are completely inappropriate. We must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms, and I strongly condemn this behavior,” Stivers tweeted.

Congressman Steve King’s recent comments, actions, and retweets are completely inappropriate. We must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms, and I strongly condemn this behavior.

— Steve Stivers (@RepSteveStivers) October 30, 2018

Additionally, the dairy company Land O’Lakes announced Tuesday that it will no longer make financial contributions to King’s campaign, citing the “company’s values.” Land O’Lakes decision to no longer support King came after Intel Corp. did the same last week.

King has come under fire for a number of comments in recent years against immigration and diversity and in support of white nationalism.

Most recently, he defended his connection to the Austria Freedom Party, a group founded by a former Nazi SS officer, telling The Washington Post on Saturday that the party would be Republican if it were in the United States.

King has also previously said “diversity is not our strength,” voiced support for a white nationalist candidate in Canada and said “we can’t restore out civilization with someone else’s babies.”

Earlier this year, King also retweeted a self-described Nazi sympathizer.

King, an eight-term congressman, faces a potentially difficult reelection bid against Democratic challenger J.D. Scholten in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District. A poll released Tuesday showed the incumbent with just a 1-point lead in the race.

King’s campaign appeared to respond to that poll on Tuesday by posting a poll on his campaign website that shows him with an 18-point lead.