Trump Slams Republican Gov. Susana Martinez For Not Doing “A Better Job”

NY Times: Trump “Unleashed A Blistering Assault” Against “The Most Prominent Hispanic Woman In American Politics.” Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump “purposefully attacked Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico” at a May 24 campaign rally, “falsely asserting she was allowing Syrian refugees to settle in the state, and blam[ing] her for Albuquerque’s unemployment numbers as well as the increase in the number of New Mexico residents on food stamps,” The New York Times reported. Trump’s diatribe against “the most prominent Hispanic woman in American politics” and “the chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association … revived questions Wednesday about whether he has a genuine appetite to unify the party,” according to the Times:

On Tuesday night, Mr. Trump purposefully attacked Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico, who in addition to being the most prominent Hispanic woman in American politics, also happens to be the chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association.



Appearing at a campaign rally in Albuquerque, the largest city in Ms. Martinez’s state, Mr. Trump unleashed a blistering assault on the governor, who skipped the event, by saying she was “not doing the job.”



He faulted her by falsely asserting she was allowing Syrian refugees to settle in the state, and blamed her for Albuquerque’s unemployment numbers as well as the increase in the number of New Mexico residents on food stamps.



“It’s your governor’s fault,” Mr. Trump told thousands of booing supporters. “We have to get your governor and get going. She’s got to do a better job, O.K.? Your governor has got to do a better job.”



The swipes at Ms. Martinez, delivered in two separate instances during his speech, seemed designed to send a message: If the presumptive Republican nominee is attacked, critics can expect Mr. Trump to hit them back far harder. [The New York Times, 5/25/16]

Right-Wing Media Figures Criticize Trump’s “Idiotic” Attacks On Martinez

Rush Limbaugh: “Why In The World” Would Trump Criticize Martinez “When Trump Himself States That He’s Attempting To Unify The Party?” Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh criticized Trump’s decision to deride Gov. Martinez, saying, “I don’t care whether what Trump said about her was true or not. I’m just asking myself, why in the world?” Limbaugh went on to criticize Trump because “[t]he timing of this, when Trump himself states that he’s attempting to unify the party,” “is making this tougher on [Paul] Ryan than it needs to be.” From the May 26 edition of Premiere Radio Networks’ The Rush Limbaugh Show:

RUSH LIMBAUGH: I guess [Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s] still waiting for “real party unity” before endorsing Trump. Let me just tell you Trumpsters something. Trump is making this tougher on Ryan than it needs to be. When he went after Susana Martinez, Trump -- Ryan has no choice but then to be protective of her. I mean, she’s chairman of Republican Governors. Look, you can frown in there at me all you want. And I don’t care whether what Trump said about her was true or not. I’m just asking myself, why in the world? The timing of this, when Trump himself states that he’s attempting to unify the party. Ryan -- by going after Susana Martinez, Trump gave Ryan a reason to hold off a couple more days or week or whatever. Ryan can’t come out and endorse Trump the day after he dumps on a Republican governor. You just can’t do it. No matter who’s right or wrong, no matter whatever Trump said about her, right or -- it doesn’t matter. Just the optics of the whole -- you understand that, right? I know she dumped on him first. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 5/26/16]

Laura Ingraham: “I Don’t Think There’s Anything To Be Gained” By Attacking Martinez. Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham said, “If I were Trump, I wouldn’t have” attacked Martinez and that “I don’t think there’s anything to be gained in it.” From the May 26 edition of Courtside Entertainment Group’s The Laura Ingraham Show:

LAURA INGRAHAM: My friends, the big controversy of the moment, and this is being fueled by the Republican establishment, they’ve been tweeting up a storm defending Susana -- poor Susana Martinez can’t take one little glancing blow by Donald Trump.

[...]

INGRAHAM:Now, I wouldn't have attacked Susana Martinez. If I were Trump, I wouldn’t have done it. He has had pretty good political instinct, but I wouldn’t have done it. I don’t think there’s anything to be gained in it. [Courtside Entertainment Group, The Laura Ingraham Show, 5/26/16]

Fox Contributor Meghan McCain: “I Just Don’t Understand What He’s Doing … Stop Shooting Inside The Tent.” Fox News contributor Meghan McCain criticized Trump for “shooting inside the tent” by criticizing Gov. Martinez, saying, “I really want to get on board with Trump, but when he attacks people like Susana Martinez, the governor of New Mexico, when he's supposed to be bringing the party together ... I just don’t understand what he’s doing.” From the May 26 edition of Fox News’ Outnumbered:

SANDRA SMITH (CO-HOST): Where is the GOP? Meghan, I want to bring you in here. Where are they as far as coming around to support Donald Trump at this point?

MEGHAN MCCAIN: I think people are still really split. You look at the polls, something like 36 percent of Americans are open to voting third party. We talked yesterday, I really want to get on board with Trump, but when he attacks people like Susana Martinez, the governor of New Mexico, when he's supposed to be bringing the party together, reaching out to different leaders -- she’s the only Latina female governor in the country, she's the head of the Governors Association in this country. I just don't understand what he's doing because people like me are having pressure on them to support him, but he has to play ball and be a leader as well and stop shooting inside the tent. Aim all your bullets at the Clintons right now. [Fox News, Outnumbered, 5/26/16]

MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough: Trump’s Comments Are “Idiotic,” “There Is No Logic There.” MSNBC Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough slammed Trump’s “idiotic” comments about Gov. Martinez, saying that “there is no logic” to why Trump criticized the “one Republican across America that checks off every single box of support that he needs to be the next president of the United States.” From the May 26 edition of MSNBC’s Morning Joe:

JOE SCARBOROUGH (CO-HOST): Chuck, it’s hard to explain.

CHUCK TODD: The only logical explanation would be this idea that it’s self-sabotage sometimes. I don't get -- of all, look -- why is he picking a fight with Susana Martinez, who basically --

SCARBOROUGH: Idiotic.

[...]

SCARBOROUGH: If you can find one Republican across America that checks off every single box of support that he needs to be the next president of the United States, it would be a Hispanic female governor from a purple state who heads the Republican Governors Association. There is no logic there. [MSNBC, Morning Joe, 5/26/16]