Donald Trump has started punishing Republicans who don't back him — sending the clear message to get in line or get out.
The latest issue came to a head when he was openly critical of New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez at a recent rally in Albuquerque, the
Washington Examiner reports.
"The governor has to do a better job," Trump said, the
Examiner reports. "She's not doing the job."
Martinez had criticized Trump on his immigration policy and, at one point, refused to share a stage with the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. And it didn't get unnoticed by Trump.
"You think I'm going to change?" Trump said. "I'm not changing. If I have a Republican that's not on my side, I'm not going to — why should I be particularly nice to the person?"
"Now, politically I may be right, I may be wrong, but that's who I am. I'm a very honest person … If somebody is going to say a little bit negative or a lot negative about me and if they happen to be a Republican, I may choose to hit them back," Trump said.
But some Republican loyalists predict Trump will move on from his attacks on members of his own party and save them for Hillary Clinton as the election draws closer.
"Conventional wisdom calls on him to stay above the fray, but Trump wisdom has served him well so far," political adviser Charlie Black said, according to the Examiner. "That said, I expect most of his fire will be trained on Mrs. Clinton between now and November."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.