Senator Mike Rounds principally shrugged off an assault from former President Donald Trump who instructed the South Dakota Republican is "loopy or simply silly" for saying the 2020 election wasn't rigged.

"I am upset however not stunned by the previous president's response," Rounds mentioned in an announcement on Monday, in response to the Sioux Falls Argus Chief. "Nonetheless, the information stay the identical. I stand by my assertion. The previous president misplaced the 2020 election."

Rounds' workplace didn't reply to a request from Newsweek Monday night.

Trump took intention at Rounds earlier on Monday for contradicting the previous president's baseless claims that widespread voter fraud prevented him from prevailing within the 2020 elections. Throughout a Sunday look on ABC Information, Rounds mentioned the election "was as truthful as now we have seen" and Republicans ought to as an alternative deal with "what it may take to win the presidency."

Senator Mike Rounds Speaks to Reporters
Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) on Monday doubled-down on his assertion that the 2020 election was truthful regardless of drawing the ire of former President Donald Trump. Above, Rounds speaks to reporters within the Senate Subway of the Capitol in December. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs

Calling Rounds a "RINO"—Republican in identify solely, Trump mentioned the senator wasn't making it "straightforward for our Nation to succeed" and promised to oppose his re-election.

Because the 2022 midterm elections strategy, Trump has singled out congressional Republicans which have criticized him or pushed again on his claims of widespread election fraud. Trump is backing main challenges in opposition to Republican representatives together with Wyoming's Liz Cheney, Michigan's Peter Meijer, Washington's Jaime Herrera Beutler and others.

Though Rounds will not be up for re-election till 2026, Trump promised to "by no means endorse this jerk once more."

However Rounds did not again down on Monday.

"If we're being sincere, there was no proof of widespread fraud that might have altered the outcomes of the election," mentioned Rounds within the assertion. "To that time, almost all of my Senate Republican colleagues acknowledged this final January."

Rounds identified that because the Senate was certifying the 2020 election final 12 months, lawmakers thought-about challenges introduced by Trump. Nonetheless, Rounds mentioned that "over 90 senators agreed that there was not sufficient proof to overturn the outcomes and, due to this fact, licensed the election as our Structure requires."

Though 147 congressional Republicans raised objections to certifying the 2020 race, Rounds voted to present the elections the Senate's blessing. Rounds was not among the many seven Senate Republicans who final 12 months voted to question Trump on fees of inciting the January 6 rebel on the Capitol.

Trump mentioned on Monday that Rounds "acquired my endorsement and simply gained his state in 2020." Trump carried South Dakota with almost 62 p.c of the vote in 2020. In the identical election, Rounds prevailed over Democratic contender Dan Alhers with about 66 p.c of the vote.

Senator Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican who has additionally drawn Trump's ire, posted an announcement to Twitter on Monday saying, "Mike Rounds speaks fact realizing that our Republic depends upon it."