A Donald Trump ally said he told the President-elect to his face that he and other GOP lawmakers "do not want" an idea Trump has floated in several interviews.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) was floated by Trump as a potential vice presidential candidate before J.D. Vance was ultimately selected, and Donalds frequently defends the former and incoming president in interviews on TV.
Recently, however, Donalds reportedly stood up to Trump on the issue of making Canada a state. According to Donalds, this controversial idea could backfire dramatically.
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This interaction was part of a "lavish dinner" Trump planned at Mar-a-Lago for Republican lawmakers who are often a thorn in the side of House Speaker Mike Johnson, according to Politico's reporting.
"Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) notably attended. A chief GOP rebel, Roy recently clashed with Trump, who called for a more loyal Republican to challenge him in his next primary," the outlet reported. "According to photos ofthe dinner posted on social media, other attendees included Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-Md.), Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) — who threatened to block Johnson from the speakership last week before changing his vote under pressure from Trump."
But it was Trump's close ally, Donalds, who is said to have voiced his disagreement to Trump's face.
"One Trump proposal got a chilly reception at the dinner: making Canada the 51st state," according to the report. It also quotes Donalds as relaying what he said to Trump:
"I said, ‘Mr. President, the Canadians, they are going to elect two Democrat senators; we don’t want that. Territory status isn’t too bad," Donalds reportedly said in an interview after the dinner.