Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) said Monday that last week’s midterm election results amounted to a personal rebuke of President Donald Trump, arguing on CNN’s “OutFront” that the administration is now trying to shift attention away from that message by targeting political opponents.
Host Erin Burnett asked Slotkin whether she believed Trump’s renewed attention toward her was personal, referencing an earlier episode in which a grand jury declined to indict Slotkin over a video reminding U.S. military and intelligence personnel of their right to refuse unlawful orders.
“Well, certainly, I’m, you know, triggering him in some way,” Slotkin said. “I mean, I don’t know why he keeps name checking me from the Oval Office. I think the American public sent a very clear signal on Tuesday night about him personally and his role in American politics about costs and corruption. And he wants to talk about anything but costs and corruption. And so I think he’s turning, trying to flip the script and focusing on other people instead of focusing on the message that was sort of generationally sent to him this last week.”
Slotkin went further, comparing the pattern to behavior she said she has observed in other countries.
“I’ve seen this move, but in other countries. Authoritarian leaders in places like Eastern Europe or in the Middle East often will target their political enemies for what they say. They’ll try to arrest them. They’ll put them in prison. And I think it’s a go to move for a crumbling, authoritarian government. And that’s what it feels like to me. He’s so desperate after the message that was sent that he’s just trying to say, look over here, look over here, and put the focus on someone else.”
Slotkin’s comments followed a line of questioning from Burnett that referenced the February case in which Slotkin faced the threat of indictment over a recorded message reminding military and intelligence personnel of their obligation to refuse unlawful orders. A grand jury declined to bring charges.
