Conservatives split after Trump calls for primary challenge against 'RINO' Chip Roy

Several conservatives are slamming Donald Trump after the former president called for a primary challenge against Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) due to the Texas Republican's support of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) for the GOP presidential nomination.

Trump attacked Roy on Monday, just hours after the Texas lawmaker appeared alongside DeSantis at a campaign event in Iowa, during which the pair dug into the former president's record while in office. Trump later criticized Roy in a post on Truth Social, calling for candidates to challenge him in the primary elections.

TRUMP'S BALLOT BATTLE: STATES THAT COULD FOLLOW COLORADO'S LEAD AND TRY TO BLOCK FORMER PRESIDENT IN 2024

"Has any smart and energetic Republican in the Great State of Texas decided to run in the Primary against RINO Congressman Chip Roy," Trump said. "For the right person, he is very beatable. If interested, let me know!!!"

The attack sparked backlash from several Republicans, who defended Roy from the former president's "shortsighted" comments.

"I stand with [Roy]," Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "He fights for what he believes and he’s one of the most conservative members of Congress. I can tell you with certainty that this shortsighted effort to intimidate Chip will not work."

DeSantis also came to Roy's defense, mocking Trump for calling for a primary challenger despite Texas's filing deadline passing over a week ago.

"While [Chip Roy] is fighting to do what Donald Trump promised to do — secure our southern border — the former president is on social media demanding a primary challenge to one of the most conservative members of Congress," DeSantis said. "I stand with Chip and am honored to have his support. The time for talking is over. We must stop the invasion, and I will get it done."

Roy and Trump have previously butted heads, especially after the Texas Republican endorsed DeSantis for the GOP presidential nomination early on in the 2024 cycle. Roy responded to Trump's latest attacks on Tuesday, criticizing the former president for refusing to debate his Republican opponents.

“I was just at multiple events with Ron DeSantis, where he’s shaking their hands and looking them in the eye, while Donald Trump hangs out in his basement in Florida, afraid to actually debate," Roy told CNN’s The Source on Tuesday.

The attack was a reference to comments Trump made during the 2020 cycle claiming then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden was running his campaign from his basement.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Roy then went further, accusing Trump of failing to implement meaningful border policies while in office because he didn't work with House Republicans while they had the majority during his first two years. Those failures, Roy said, could be why Trump doesn't want to confront his opponents onstage.

“President Trump could have done that, if he would have led Congress to get something done. That didn’t happen," Roy said. "I don’t think he wants to debate that record. I don’t think he wants to go, you know, through every single issue that he’s been a part of. And he knows that Gov. DeSantis has done a phenomenal job in Florida. So, you know, he doesn’t show up for the debates."