President Donald Trump came to Rep. Elise Stefanik’s (R-N.Y.) defense, calling her a “new Republican star,” after she was heavily criticized for her performance during former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch’s impeachment inquiry hearing.
“A new Republican Star is born. Great going @EliseStefanik!” Trump wrote in a Twitter post that was accompanied by a clip of Stefanik questioning Yovanovitch on Friday.
A new Republican Star is born. Great going @EliseStefanik! https://t.co/9QH4oUa2eg
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2019
Stefanik came into the spotlight for several testy exchanges with House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) throughout the week in which she pointed out to the Californian lawmaker that she was being denied the time to question the witness.
During the first public hearing on Wednesday, Stefanik asked Schiff, “Will you be prohibiting witnesses from answering members’ questions as you have in the closed-door depositions?”
Schiff replied that he has only done that “when it was apparent that members were seeking to out the whistleblower.”
“Mr. Chairman, will you be prohibiting witnesses from answering members’ questions as you have in the closed door depositions? “ –@EliseStefanik pic.twitter.com/zHN6jwTW9P
— GOP (@GOP) November 13, 2019
Stefanik continued to make headlines on Friday when she asked a similar question to Schiff during Yovanovitch’s hearing.
How many times can Adam Schiff say “the Gentlewoman is NOT recognized”? He clearly has NO interest in letting Republicans have any say in the impeachment hearings. Watch him interrupt us multiple times and refuse to yield for our parliamentary questions👇👇 pic.twitter.com/DnudgOe5Ed
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) November 15, 2019
In a Twitter post following the hearing, she raised concerns about unfair treatment by Schiff when he interrupted Republican members during the hearing. She also posted a clip of when she was dismissed during the hearing to illustrate her point.
“He clearly has NO interest in letting Republicans have any say in the impeachment hearings. Watch him interrupt us multiple times and refuse to yield for our parliamentary questions,” she wrote.
After the hearing, many of Trump’s critics slammed the New York congresswoman for her speaking time, including George Conway, husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, who called her “lying trash” while calling for people to donate to Stefanik’s opponent. Many other social media users also expressed similar criticism toward the lawmaker causing the tag #trashystefanik to trend over the weekend.
Later in the day, Conway also shared photos of Stefanik that appeared to be doctored, according to the congresswoman’s communications director.
Meanwhile, many people also came to Stefanik’s defense, including Trump, after seeing Conway’s attack.
“It is apparently not enough for this man, supposedly a respected lawyer, to dispute Stefanik’s claim of unfair treatment. No, he must denounce her as ‘trash.’ What does that say about him?” Brit Hume, a senior political analyst for Fox News, wrote.
“In his ongoing quest to blindly attack @EliseStefanik, George Conway (@gtconway3d) happily shared what appears to be a photoshopped picture of her,” Washington Examiner reporter Jerry Dunleavy posted.
Stefanik expressed appreciation for the support saying that she would “continue to work hard to pursue the truth on behalf of my constituents.”
“The Radical Left will continue their sick attacks on me but I’m proud to represent the people of NY21!” she wrote.
Thanks, @realDonaldTrump & EVERYONE for the outpouring of support! I will continue to work hard to pursue the truth on behalf of my constituents. The Radical Left will continue their sick attacks on me but I’m proud to represent the people of NY21! 💁🏻♀️💅🏻🇺🇸https://t.co/j5F9YYUjHq
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) November 18, 2019
