House Speaker Paul Ryan
Paul Davis RyanPoll: Three-quarters of Americans say Nancy Pelosi should be replaced, including half of Democrats GOP leaders: No talk of inviting Russia delegation to Capitol GOP lawmaker calls for ethics rules changes after Collins charged with insider trading MORE's (R-Wis.) GOP primary challenger told a columnist in a tweet he should "eat a bullet."
The tweet came after Paul Nehlen — a far-right conservative who has a history of controversial statements — initially posted a video on Twitter earlier this week regarding legislation the House passed that would allow people to use permits for carrying concealed handguns across state lines while also boosting the background check system.
Nehlen then shot back at the columnist.
“Do us all a favor, Podhoretz. Eat a bullet," he tweeted.
Do us all a favor, Podhoretz.
— Paul Nehlen (@pnehlen) December 7, 2017
Eat a bullet. https://t.co/8iDUJbfR8D
— Paul Nehlen (@pnehlen) December 7, 2017
Nehlen later responded again to the tweet with what appeared to be an advertisement for a food called the "Boston bullet."
Nehlen badly lost a primary challenge to Ryan in 2016. During the campaign, he criticized Ryan, saying he has "hijacked this great country of ours."
He has also in the past said he supports a surveillance program for Muslims, saying in a past interview "we should be monitoring every mosque."
Ryan's campaign spokesman, Kevin Seifert, said in response to the tweets that it is the "latest embarrassing controversy that Paul Nehlen has created for himself," according to The Associated Press.