Trump labels GOP challengers the ‘Three Stooges’

President Trump early Monday knocked former Rep. Mark Sanford’s (R-S.C.) entry into the Republican presidential primary, labeling the former South Carolina governor and his two other GOP challengers the “Three Stooges.”

“When the former Governor of the Great State of South Carolina, @MarkSanford, was reported missing, only to then say he was away hiking on the Appalachian Trail, then was found in Argentina with his Flaming Dancer friend, it sounded like his political career was over,” he tweeted.

“It was, but then he ran for Congress and won, only to lose his re-elect after I Tweeted my endorsement, on Election Day, for his opponent. But now take heart, he is back, and running for President of the United States. The Three Stooges, all badly failed candidates, will give it a go!” he added.

When the former Governor of the Great State of South Carolina, @MarkSanford, was reported missing, only to then say he was away hiking on the Appalachian Trail, then was found in Argentina with his Flaming Dancer friend, it sounded like his political career was over. It was,….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 9, 2019

{mosads}Sanford announced his candidacy on Sunday, joining former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld and former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh in challenging Trump for the Republican nomination.

Pressed by “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace on whether he believed he had a real chance in 2020, Sanford said, “You never know.”

“Let’s go out and force or try and create a conversation on that which is not being talked about in this presidential cycle,” he added.

Wallace also questioned Sanford about the extramarital affair that caused a scandal while he was governor.

“I learned a level of humility, a level of empathy that I didn’t have before,” Sanford said. “It is something of great regret. It’s something I’ve apologized extensively for.”

“In contrast to the president, where he says there’s not a single thing that he sort of regrets or apologizes for, I profoundly apologize for that,” he added.

Trump has also been accused of having affairs, notably with adult-film star Stormy Daniels.

Sanford, Weld and Walsh will face a president who has continued to receive support from most Republicans. A recent Morning Consult poll found that 85 percent of them approved of Trump.

The Republican parties in Kansas and Sanford’s home state of South Carolina on Saturday also voted Saturday to cancel their GOP primaries in 2020 ahead of the presidential race in moves that were criticized by the president’s challengers.

Updated at 7:13 a.m.