President Donald Trump criticized Sen. Joe Donnelly (D., Ind.) at a rally in Elkhart, Ind., Thursday for his voting record and fealty to Democratic leadership.
Trump also praised Republican Senate candidate Mike Braun, a businessman and former member of the Indiana House of Representatives. The president drew a contrast between Braun’s loyalty to the people of Indiana with Donnelly’s loyalty to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.).
"Joe Donnelly will do whatever Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi tell him what to do," Trump said. "They don't ask him, they tell him. They say ‘Joe, this is the way you are going to vote.’ Mike Braun will be a great, great representative of the people of Indiana. Mike Braun is a winner — great businessman, by the way."
Trump also targeted Donnelly for his positions on a wide array of issues, including illegal immigration, regulations, and health care.
"Your senator, Joe Donnelly, voted against enhanced vetting," he said. "What in the world would anybody be doing voting against enhanced vetting? Why?"
"Joe Donnelly voted no on tax cuts, voted no health care, and he voted no on canceling job-killing regulations, which may be even more important than those incredible tax cuts," Trump added. "He voted yes on something that we are systematically taking down — we got rid of the individual mandate."
Earlier in the speech, Trump dubbed Donnelly "Sleepin’ Joe" and said voters had to pick Braun in order to "drain the swamp."
"If Joe Donnelly, Sleepin’ Joe and the Democrats, get back into power, remember what I said: They will raise your taxes, they will destroy your jobs, and they are going to knock the hell out of your borders," Trump said.