GOP New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu demands Biden apologize for ‘insulting’ MAGA Republicans

The moderate Republican governor of New Hampshire is demanding on Sunday that President Joe Biden apologize for labeling MAGA Republican beliefs ‘semi-fascism.’

Governor Chris Sununu, who has not shied away from criticizing Donald Trump himself, said Biden’s comments attacking his predecessor’s supporters at a Maryland fundraiser on Thursday were ‘horribly insulting.’

‘I mean, the fact that the president would go out and just insult half of America, because, effectively, half of America votes Republican, half of America ultimately votes Democrat…but effectively call half of America semi-fascist, because he’s trying to stir up controversy, he’s trying to stir up this anti-Republican sentiment right before the election, it’s just – it’s horribly inappropriate,’ Sununu said on CNN‘s State of the Union.

‘It’s insulting. And people should be insulted by it. And he should apologize.’

Biden reportedly made the remarks during a private meeting with donors ahead of a speech in Bethesda on behalf of the Democratic National Committee.

‘What we’re seeing now is either the beginning or the death knell of an extreme MAGA philosophy,’ the president said according to multiple reports.

‘It’s not just Trump. It’s the entire philosophy that underpins the – I’m going to say something: It’s like semi-fascism.’

Sununu suggested the comment was beneath Biden’s office, telling CNN: ‘That isn’t leadership.’

He deflected when host Dana Bash asked the governor to acknowledge the existence of extremism within the GOP, insisting that it was a burden for all US citizens to bear.

The moderate Republican compared Biden’s comments to Republicans linking Democrats to Communism – which he insisted was not fair either.

‘Look, you can see elements of fascism and white supremacy all – in America. Let’s own that as Americans. There’s no doubt,’ Sununu said.

‘And we can say that all – all the Democrats are communists, they’re all ultra-socialist communist that just want to bring down our free capitalistic market. That’s not true of Democrats, either.’

He accused Biden of ‘polarizing the country’ and running afoul of his 2020 campaign promise to unify America.

‘And then to call half of America fascists? Come on. He owes an apology. That’s not appropriate,’ Sununu said.

It’s particularly strong criticism coming from a Republican who’s been known to take on Trump from time to time, despite the ex-president’s domineering influence in the party.

Sununu made headlines earlier this year when he called Trump ‘f***ing crazy’ at the Gridiron Dinner in Washington, DC – as the crowd of Beltway insiders laughed in response.

He walked the insult back in the following days, insisting it was a ‘joke’ and that he is not ‘anti-Trump.’

But Biden’s criticism of pro-Trump Republicans wasn’t limited to behind closed doors on Thursday.

‘Americans are going have to choose. You must choose. Will we be a country that moves forward or backward? Will we build a future or obsess over the past?’ the president asked his audience at the Bethesda, Maryland DNC event.

‘Trump and the extreme MAGA Republicans have made their choice: to go backwards, full of anger, violence, hate, and division.’

He touted Democratic accomplishments over the last year and a half, particularly after taking office during one of the darkest periods of the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘Folks, it just didn’t happen; it took a lot of hard work. It took a plan that we stuck to, even in the face of unrelenting attacks from the most powerful special interests in the country,’ Biden said.

‘And the whole notion of the “burn it all down” politics of MAGA Republicans continues to be a drumbeat.’