Fox News Flash top headlines for Sept. 9
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President Trump on Monday brushed off attempts by a trio of longshot primary challengers vying for the Republican Party presidential nomination as a "laughingstock" and a "publicity stunt."
Former South Carolina governor and congressman Mark Sanford became the third Republican to announce his intention to unseat Trump. Other challengers include former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh of Illinois and William Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts.
“The three people are a total joke," Trump told reporters outside the White House. "They’re a joke. They’re a laughingstock."
In this July 21, 2018, file photo, Republican politician Mark Sanford speaks at OZY Fest in Central Park in New York. Sanford, the former South Carolina governor and congressman, has decided to launch a longshot Republican challenge to President Donald Trump. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
He went on to mock their polling numbers before saying they had no credibility, Politico reported.
“I guess it’s a publicity stunt,” Trump said. “To be honest, I'm not looking to give them any credibility. They have no credibility.”
The three challengers already face an uphill battle. Over the weekend, Republicans in at least four states -- Nevada, South Carolina, Kansas and Arizona -- decided to abandon their presidential nomination contests.
"With no legitimate primary challenger and President Trump's record of results, the decision was made to save South Carolina taxpayers over $1.2 million and forgo an unnecessary primary," South Carolina GOP Chairman Drew McKissick said in a news release.
In a tweet last week, Weld blasted Trump amid reports the states were going to scrap its primaries and caucuses, saying Trump would rather be "crowned president than elected."
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Trump denied playing a part in the decision by GOP officials.
“The four states that canceled it don't want to waste their money. If there was a race, they would certainly want to do that, but they are considered to be a laughingstock,” Trump said on Monday, according to Politico.
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