Craig Riedel endorses Trump after getting caught on hot mic saying his behavior is ‘arrogant’ and unpresidential

Leaked audio exclusively obtained by The Charlie Kirk Show revealed that Craig Riedel said he did not want to be endorsed by Donald Trump, nor that he supported him.

After Craig Riedel was exposed on the show for not wanting to see Trump become the next president, he issued a bizarre endorsement that some of the most prominent America First voices didn't buy.

https://twitter.com/GOPJosh20/status/1733195113885577469?s=20

The leaked audio includes a conversation between Riedel and prominent conservative donor Alan Jacoby. The conversation proceeded as follows:

"You're not looking for a Trump endorsement, are you?" Jacoby asked Riedel.

"I'm not. We are not. Nope," Riedel replied.

"And you're making it a point that you do not want Trump's endorsement?" asked Jacoby.

Riedel replied, "Yep."

"When the time comes, publicly, and if it does come, that you're put on the spot about your support for Trump, what are you going to tell people?" Jacoby said to Riedel.

"I get asked this often and my answer is the same every time. I have hit on it already. That look, Donald Trump, he's a different person than me. I don't like the way he communicates. I think he is arrogant," said Riedel. "I don't like the way he calls people names. I just don't think that's very becoming of a president."

Jacoby asked, "So it's safe to say that you're not looking to support the guy's primary run?"

"I'm with you," Riedel replied. "We need to go a different direction."

After listening to the audio, Andrew Kolvet, who was guest hosting the show, slammed Craig Riedel for pretending to be this "rock-ribbed conservative" candidate and championed Majewski as a true "grassroots MAGA warrior."

Majewski told Kolvet that he's "not surprised" to find out that his opponent is a Trump hater.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), one of the most prominent America First voices in the Republican Party, called Riedel a "RINO Never-Trumper following the release of the audio.

https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1733209083199549860?s=20

After the audio gained ground on social media, Craig Riedel released a statement endorsing Donald Trump and claimed his comments in the audio recording were a setup between "Matt Gaetz and a social media trickster."

"It's very simple...I endorse Donald Trump for president," Riedel wrote.

"Let me be clear...there is no question that President Trump's record of securing our southern border, fighting inflation, creating jobs, and taking on our foreign adversaries like China is what we need over Joe Biden's failed leadership," he continued.

"Matt Gaetz and a social media trickster pulled a stunt yesterday to try and convince President Trump to get involved in my congressional primary for proven loser JR Majewski. Yesterday, a so-called donor called me, making numerous anti-Trump statements. I was clear then, and let me clear now: I am focused on winning this primary by defeating proven loser JR Majewski and then defeating Marcy Kaptur in the general election," Riedel concluded.

https://twitter.com/craig_riedel/status/1733243709959843858?s=20

Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) slammed Riedel's "embarrassing" statement as a "feeble attempt to cover your tracks."

"Craig, it's embarrassing to see this feeble attempt to cover your tracks after clearly stating you are NOT for Pres. Trump, and do NOT want his endorsement. I proudly endorse @JRMajewski for OH-9," Mills wrote on X.

"The only true America First candidate in the race!" he continued. "This is similar to when you were recorded stating 'you’re allowed to lie in politics.'"

https://twitter.com/CoryMillsFL/status/1733277428456345797?s=20

During the podcast episode, Majewski, who hopes to see an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, raised concerns about Craig Riedel allegedly approaching prominent members of Congress and "saying what they want to hear" in order to get their endorsement.