It's been almost a year since Al Franken left the Senate after sexual misconduct allegations were lobbed against him by several women, and it's been nearly that long since President Trump last tweeted about the former Minnesota senator. On Thursday night, however, Trump paid a visit to Franken's home state for a rally, and he had some thoughts on the Democrat stepping down from his post. "Boy, did he fold up like a wet rag," Trump said, describing Franken first as "wacky," per Politico. "Man, man, he was gone so fast. It was like, 'Oh, he did something,' 'Oh, I resign. I quit.'" Trump's comments came as his nominee for the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, defiantly stands firm in the wake of sexual assault allegations against him; Kavanaugh even penned an op-ed Thursday in the Wall Street Journal, defending his reputation.
The New York Times notes that Trump's remarks in Minnesota, a state he barely lost in 2016, sync with his "long-stated personal mantra of never giving in to any accusation, and considering those who do to be weak." Trump also had words about Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, who was slotted into Franken's spot after he resigned. "I do this stuff for a living, and I'm not sure I ever heard of her," Trump said. "And I need her vote." He also returned to Franken, adding: "Nobody knows who the hell she is. She took a wacky guy's place." Trump also went after Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, specifically on immigration and health care, but he didn't mention sexual misconduct allegations against the DNC deputy chair. The Times observes Trump did play up that Ellison had said before the 2016 election that he thought Trump had a chance to win. (More President Trump stories.)