James Comer slams House GOP hardliners on CNN: 'Don't know when to declare victory'

Rep. James Comer (R-KY) slammed his own GOP colleagues for shutting down a compromise from the House Speaker.

CNN anchor Jake Tapper opened a segment on "The Lead" about GOP hardliners voting down Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) effort to attach Trump's favored proof-of-citizenship voting bill, the Save America Act, to a must-pass defense bill as an amendment. He noted that they blocked it by tanking the procedural vote.

"I've had to deal with a few of these Republicans that continue to tank the procedural votes," Comer said. "We can't even vote on the bill, much less debate a bill."

Comer admitted that it's "very frustrating to be in Congress right now," and called out Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) for leading the rejection of Johnson's amendment.

"I felt like Speaker Johnson gave them what they initially asked for, even though we've already passed the Save America Act," which is in the Senate. However, Comer noted that Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said, "They don't have the votes to pass it."

According to Comer, it wasn't the only time he felt like the GOP hurt itself. He continued his criticism of GOP colleagues in the House by telling Tapper, "Sometimes, I feel like some of the Republicans don't know when to declare victory in many of the crusades that they lead."

Sighing in exasperation, Comer added, "I believe in the cause, but punishing the House for inaction in the Senate is not a good strategy for Republicans."