Reid To GOP Leaders: Disavow Trump Once And For All Or ‘Be A Mini-Christie’

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Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) on Thursday admonished Republican leaders for implicitly supporting GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, challenging them to explicitly disavow Trump’s “detestable” policies or embrace him once and for all.

“For too long, Sen. McConnell and Speaker Ryan have tried to have it both ways, giving Trump a slap on the wrist each time he says something detestable, but always committing to support him at the end of the day,” Reid said in a speech at the Center for American Progress Action Fund. “This is precisely the kind of moral cowardice that enabled the rise of Trump.”

Reid said that if Republican leaders aren’t willing to withdraw their support of Trump, they should wear the candidate’s signature Make American Great Again hats and stand behind the frontrunner at his press conferences.

“Be a mini-Christie, I guess,” Reid suggested, referring to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s stone-faced endorsement of the Manhattan businessman that led many Twitter users to joke he was being held hostage.

“Why are they waiting to withdraw their support? What more do they need to see Trump has made disgusting sexist statements,” Reid said before noting Trump’s insults towards Latinos, veterans and the disabled as well.

Reid also blamed Republican leaders’ attempts to delegitimize President Barack Obama over the past seven years for Trump’s rise.

“If Sen. McConnell wonders where Donald Trump came (from), he should look in the mirror,” Reid said.

Reid also repeated he has respect for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) for having a set of principles, even though he disagrees with him, because he said Trump “stands for nothing.”

“The Republican Party has become the Party of Trump,” Reid said.

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