Classless jerk

McDaniel splits with aide over Trump criticism on MSNBC

By ALEX ISENSTADT

Mississippi Senate candidate Chris McDaniel has split with top adviser Rick Tyler, his campaign announced on Monday.

McDaniel’s campaign attributed Tyler’s departure to his on-air criticisms of President Donald Trump, which it said led to a “mutual” parting of ways.

The Mississippi Republican, who is trying to unseat GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, has sought to cast himself as a staunch ally of the president.

“Senator McDaniel is a loyal and longtime supporter of President Trump, and is wholeheartedly committed to his Make America Great Again agenda,” the campaign said. “Tyler, in his role as an MSNBC political analyst, has been and continues to be an outspoken critic of the President.”

It adds: “Because of this, it has been mutually agreed upon that it is in the best interest of the campaign and Mr. Tyler to go their separate ways.”

Hyde-Smith was appointed earlier this year by Gov. Phil Bryant to serve out the remainder of former Sen. Thad Cochran’s term.

Tyler has worked for a variety of candidates, including the presidential campaigns of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Tyler has long been critical of the president. In November, he described Trump as a “classless jerk.”