The first Republican sitting member of Congress to endorse Donald Trump said the presidential election results were an “oh my god moment” for the country as the Democratic Party realized they got “wiped out.”
“It was an oh my god moment and then to know we locked down the Senate. I know it had to be a terrible night for Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, President Obama to basically get wiped out,” said Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., on CNN Wednesday morning. “But I think it tells you the mood of the country.”
Collins argued the Democrats have “no one to blame but themselves” for assuming that Trump couldn’t possibly win the election.
“I’ll say the Democrats have no one to blame but themselves. On the congressional floor, I called it the arrogance and smugness. They just knew that Donald Trump couldn’t win, or so they thought. They had this arrogance about themselves and amazing how that comes back,” said Collins, noting that the Republican didn’t have to even get the support of urban centers.
He said the Republican won the election despite hostility from minority groups and college-educated women, but argued many of them will eventually become “proud” to call the Republican their president once they get to know the “real” Trump.
“So, quite a night. And I want to thank Americans for trusting Donald Trump and I can just assure them they will not be disappointed. They will be proud to call Mr. Trump their president as they get to know him as well as I do.”
Collins said the first priority for the Republican-controlled elected government is to repeal Obamacare and for Trump to pick his Cabinet. Referring to the Republican president-elect’s signature campaign promise, Collins said “I believe the wall will be coming.”
