Republican Senate hopeful and Trump favorite ‘caught in leaked audio distancing himself from president to black leaders’
A REPUBLICAN hopeful - and Donald Trump favorite - was reportedly caught distancing himself from the president to black leaders in revealing leaked audio.
John James, who was previously suggested as Trump's ambassador to the last year, is now vying for the Senate in swing state .
The president even shared a of them in the Oval Office - but it would appear the feeling isn't mutual.
The 38-year-old Iraq veteran criticized many of Trump's decisions in a video conference with prominent community leaders that was obtained by .
When James was asked whether he disagreed with the president on key issues, his response was telling.
"This race is about people in the state of Michigan who’ve been failed by their leaders for generations.
"This race is about people who are hurting in this state, and I’m going to make this race about Michigan.”
His spokesperson told POLITICO James was his own person.
But James has said the president would be an asset to the African American community.
Nevertheless, Trump's team fear he is attempting to play both sides, reports POLITICO, citing a memo sent to the Senate GOP campaign arm.
It said that James' candidacy may actually end up hurting the president's prospects in the battleground state.
A in June particularly rattled the Trump campaign after James announced his Senate bid, reports say.
“We are heading in the wrong direction as a country and our leaders in Washington are failing to lead us toward a better and brighter future," James wrote.