GOP senator: Lawmakers who focus on Trump tweets are ‘out of touch’

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) warned his GOP colleagues on Sunday that they’re “getting out of touch with the American people” if they’re focused on President Trump’s Twitter habits.

Asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” if he believed “character still counts in American politics,” Portman said it did, and that he didn’t agree with everything the president writes on Twitter. 

“I don’t agree with every tweet. As you know I’ve spoken up on occasion,” Portman said. “And yet if you’re focused on the tweets and not focused on actually accomplishing what people are looking to have happen for them and their family I think you are getting out of touch with the American people.”

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Portman endorsed Trump in May of 2016, but rescinded his support in October of that year, after The Washington Post released the “Access Hollywood” recording in which Trump could be heard boasting about groping and kissing women without their consent.

“While I continue to respect those who still support Donald Trump, I can no longer support him,” Portman said at the time. “I will be voting for Mike Pence for president.”

But Portman said Sunday that congressional Republicans now have a responsibility to ensure that Trump is successful in office.

 “We’ve got to be sure that he succeeds because when he succeeds the country succeeds,” Portman said.