Two Republican lawmakers in blue states chided President Trump during the Memorial Day holiday for attacking former Vice President Joe Biden during a four-day state visit to Japan.
“Wrong for @POTUS Trump to criticize @JoeBiden in Japan and to agree with Kim Jong-un. Politics stops at water’s edge,” Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) tweeted Monday. “Never right to side with murderous dictator vs. fellow American.”
“It’s Memorial Day Weekend and you’re taking a shot at Biden while praising a dictator,” Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) also tweeted Sunday. “This is just plain wrong.”
During the trip, Trump tweeted that he “smiled” at North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s characterization of Biden as “low IQ.” At a press conference Monday, Trump reaffirmed his agreement with Kim on Biden, telling reporters “Kim Jong Un made a statement that Joe Biden is a low IQ individual. He probably is based on his record. I think I agree with him on that.”
King, a 14-term congressman, won by one of his narrowest margins in 2018, defeating challenger Liuba Grechen Shirley (D) 53 percent to 47 percent after winning 62 percent to 38 percent against DuWayne Gregory in 2016.
Kinzinger defeated his 2018 challenger by a wider margin, 55 percent to 41 percent, but as of 2019 is the only Republican representing an Illinois district north of Peoria.