President Donald Trump attempted to distance himself from disgraced Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) on Wednesday after the Republican incumbent lost his primary on Florida’s 7th district on Tuesday evening.

Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday that he told Mills to exit the race.

“I told Congressman Cory Mills of Florida, a friend of mine, to get out of the Race, but he wouldn’t listen. He thought he could win, so who can blame him?” he said.

Mills lost his primary in Florida’s 7th district to former television anchor Ryan Elijah. This came Mills faced an investigation from the House Ethics Committee for alleged campaign finance violations, misuse of congressional resources and whether he engaged in dating violence or sexual misconduct.

Last year, a judge hit him with a restraining order after he allegedly threatened to release nude photos and videos of an ex-partner as blackmail.

Trump had remained mum about Mills’s allegations, though in February, he offered an endorsement of Mills.

“Congressman Cory Mills is an America First Patriot and Tremendous Champion for the Great People of Florida’s 7th Congressional District!” Trump said on Truth Social in February. “Cory Mills has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”

But on Monday ahead of the primary, Trump did not reiterate his endorsement when he restated his endorsement of a slate of candidates in the president’s adopted home state of Florida.

Mills had become a lightning rod in the House of Representatives after the resignations of Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) for sexual misconduct in April. Despite this, Trump did not speak about Mills throughout the process in the House.

That promoted some Republicans like Reps. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) to call on him to step aside. Mace also introduced a resolution to expel Mills. Luna also endorsed Elijah in his campaign against Mills.

Speaker Mike Johnson had told The Independent last month that he wanted to let the Ethics investigation process play out for both Mills and Rep. Max Miller of Ohio.

“The the key word there is allegation, we have a process here,” Johnson said in July. “The House Ethics Committee works on those things.”

Miller faces domestic violence allegations by his ex-wife Emily Moreno, the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio). Miller has denied any wrongdoing, but Republicans fear his decision to stay in the race might cost them the 7th district in Ohio.

Despite the words about Mills, Trump endorsed Elijah.

“We now have a great candidate, Ryan Elijah, running in his place!” he said. “Ryan stands for EVERYTHING MAGA, and is respected by ALL. He has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

The primaries on Tuesday proved to be a mixed bag for the president.